Export of Kazakhstan agricultural goods grew 1.6-fold in 2012

Export of Kazakhstan-made agricultural goods grew 1.6-fold in 2012, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan Agriculture Minister Assylzhan Mamytbekov. “Kazakhstan's export of agricultural goods increased 1.6-fold in 2012 compared to 2011 and made $3.1 million. 11 million tons of grain were exported in 2012. This is the record high amount of export over the years of Kazakhstan’s independence. The achieved output of agricultural goods allow Kazakhstan to fully meet the needs of the local market almost in all types of goods,” Assylzhan Mamytbekov said. According to him, it was planned to achieve four target indicators as part of the program for development of agricultural production in Kazakhstan in 2010-2014: increase the GVA (gross value added), increase the labor efficiency in agriculture, increase the export and meet over 80 percent of needs of the local food market with locally-made goods. “According to preliminary information, the GVA in agricultural production complex grew 9 percent in January-September 2012 instead of the planned 3.9 percent. Considering the last year’s decrease caused by the severe drought, there is a risk that labor efficiency in agriculture would be insufficient, though: we are expecting it at $3 thousand instead of the planned $4.2 thousand,” the Minister added. By Baubek Konyrov