An MP from the “Auyl” party faction, Almas Mukhametov, has addressed Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov with a proposal to transfer the National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Centre (NASEC), agrarian universities and scientific organisations to the remit of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MSHE). The request also raised issues of research funding and social support for young scientists.
WHAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THEY PROPOSE TO CHANGE
The parliamentary request states that three agrarian universities and 31 scientific organisations had previously left the unified science system and moved under the remit of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). According to Mukhametov, their activities are now coordinated by a department that employs only seven staff members.
The MP proposes transferring NASEC together with its subsidiary organisations to the MSHE, while leaving with the MoA the determination of priority research needed by agriculture. In his view, such a division of functions would allow the management of agrarian science to be combined with the general system of scientific and higher education.
WHAT PROBLEMS SCIENTISTS FACE
The request notes delays in scientific project competitions and funding. According to the MP, due to the untimely arrival of funds, research is suspended, and young scientists are left without a stable income and move into other fields. He also reported that in 2025 the number of researchers in Kazakhstan decreased by 6,000 people.
Mukhametov separately pointed to difficulties in obtaining preferential mortgages. According to the data he cited, out of almost 14,000 young scientists, only 800 people have received such support over the past four years. He named as one of the reasons the organisational and legal form of scientific institutes: most agrarian research institutes are registered as limited liability partnerships (LLPs), for which, he said, preferential terms at “Otbasy Bank” are not provided.
Another problem concerns the requirements of the “Bolashak” programme. When the state delays funding for scientific projects, researchers may experience gaps in their employment record and pension contributions. At the same time, the programme requires them to be continuous.
The MP also drew attention to differences in support for specialists working in rural areas. Teachers and doctors moving to villages receive housing assistance and relocation allowances under the “With a diploma — to the village!” programme. Young scientists who come to work at rural experimental stations do not, according to the request, have such support.
THE PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER NASEC HAS BEEN MADE BEFORE
In comments under Mukhametov’s publication, former NASEC chairman Toleutai Rakhimbekov supported Mukhametov’s initiative. In his comment, he said that over 11 years of the centre’s operation, 15 people had served as its chairmen of the board.
According to Rakhimbekov, back in July 2022 he proposed to Minister of Science Sayasat Nurbek that agrarian science be transferred to the MSHE in its entirety, within the framework of NASEC. At the same time, he advocated changing the organisational and legal form of the centre to a state non-commercial fund.
CONTEXT
In March 2026, the Government of Kazakhstan announced the development of a plan for the development of agrarian science aimed at improving its efficiency and orienting it towards the needs of business. In the response of Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin to a request from MP Tilektes Adambekov, mention was made of revising NASEC’s organisational structure, commercialising scientific developments and interacting with business.
FBRK has repeatedly written about problems in organisations subordinate to NASEC. Among them is the use of scientific lands: as FBRK’s founder, agro-expert Kirill Pavlov, wrote, out of approximately 140,000 hectares, more than 30% were transferred for use by private farms under the guise of joint activity.
At the Baraev Centre, after a change of leadership, the chief accountant alleged suspected financial violations and personnel pressure. The story continued with court disputes with FBRK, and NASEC itself was earlier fined 86,500 tenge for an untimely and incomplete response to a request for documents.
In addition, the editorial team drew attention to discrepancies in data on seed production, a dispute with a supplier of three combine harvesters worth 897.8 million tenge, as well as conflicts around “Qazaq Tulpary” and the Arkalyk Agricultural Experimental Station, including the recovery of about 78 million tenge.
