Kazakhstan government will help famers suffering from drought

Kazakhstan Agriculture Ministry is working on measures to support farmers in relation to the severe drought in Kazakhstan, the Ministry’s accountable secretary Yevgeniy Aman told Pm.kz. According to him, the highest temperatures have been registered in Kostanay, Karaganda, West-Kazakhstan and Aktobe oblasts. The official says that the government "measures will include backing-up seeds, possible prolongation of loans and a special support to make fodder conservation cheaper”. “In 2010 we have tested a whole range of measures that we will expand this year. We will try to render support to businesses to help them minimize the losses. Deficit of the fodder is a serious problem for many farmers, but we must avoid a decline in the cattle livestock,” Aman said. The speaker noted that last year many agricultural establishments made a two-year stock of fodder. This will allow them to survive the drought. Meanwhile, individual farmers with no moveable fodder stock are the ones who need help. “Even if these farms plan to decrease the cattle livestock, we are still increasing the purchase of cattle under Sybaga program,” the Ministry’s representative stated.