By Shaimerden Chikanayev
Agriculture is one of the most attractive sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy. Kazakhstan has approximately 24 million hectares of arable land and 188 million hectares of pasture. More than 74% of the country’s territory is suitable for agricultural production. More than 42% of Kazakhstan’s population live in the countryside and about 20% of all employed persons in Kazakhstan are employed in the agricultural industry.
Kazakhstan is one of the top 10 grain exporters in the world and according to official estimates, its meat production is a particularly promising area that can generate up to US$2.6 billion in annual export revenue. The biggest potential markets for Kazakh agricultural products are China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Russia.