Senate Deputy Zakirjan Kuziev has sent a request to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, highlighting the critical state of the breeding and seed production sector — one of the key branches of the country's agro-industrial complex.
According to Kazpravda.kz, despite the President's instructions, the share of domestic varieties for a number of agricultural crops, including potatoes and sugar beet, still does not exceed 10%.
Kuziev paid particular attention to financial imbalances. According to his data, more than 12.5 billion tenge is allocated annually from the budget to subsidise seed production, while around 8 billion tenge of this amount is directed towards supporting the purchase of imported seeds.
"Thus, state funds are essentially financing the development of breeding systems in foreign countries instead of strengthening our own scientific potential," the statement reads.
The deputy believes this poses a threat to Kazakhstan's food security. Among the systemic problems in the sector, the senator also cited the low use of elite seeds — 7.1% of the total sown area (compared to 15–18% in Russia and Belarus), a shortage of personnel (the average age of breeders is 61), as well as the dilapidated material and technical base of specialised organisations.
Furthermore, the deputy pointed to the reduction of agricultural land designated for scientific purposes. In particular, the A.I. Barayev Scientific and Production Centre for Grain Farming in the Akmola Region has lost more than half of its land — from 12,900 hectares down to 5,500 hectares.
At the same time, Zakirjan Kuziev noted the lack of effective state control over the circulation and certification of seeds, as well as the non-transparent import of varieties.
As priority measures, the senator demanded full funding for three projects of the National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Centre (NASEC) amounting to 16.7 billion tenge within the current year.
In his view, these funds are necessary for the urgent modernisation of scientific infrastructure. He also proposed strengthening personnel training through grants and internships, developing a separate law on the protection of breeding achievements, and conducting a review of the lands previously taken from the Barayev Centre.
In his response, the Prime Minister stated that a Comprehensive Plan for 2024–2028 has been approved for the development of seed production, which envisages reducing import dependence, creating more than 100 new varieties, and introducing digital monitoring.
The Head of Government confirmed the significance of the NASEC projects and the existence of positive assessments of them, but noted that due to budget constraints, their funding is only possible within the framework of forming the budget for 2026–2028.
On the issue of personnel training, Bektenov reported that relevant programmes are being implemented at KazNAIU, S. Seifullin KazATU, and Zhangir Khan ZKATU. According to him, developing a separate law on breeding achievements is currently premature — the necessary amendments have already been initiated by deputies of the Majilis. Regarding the land issue of the Barayev Centre, a review of title documents is being carried out.
Thus, despite the acknowledgement of systemic problems, the senator's key demand for immediate funding of scientific projects was not met. This means that the modernisation of the breeding base is postponed until at least 2026, and Kazakhstan's dependence on imported seeds continues.