Kazakhstan Reduces Wheat Planting by 125,000 Hectares in 2026 Agricultural Strategy

The Kazakh government has finalized the structure of agricultural planting areas for 2026, marking a strategic shift away from wheat toward more drought-resistant and profitable crops. As reported by the Cabinet of Ministers' press service, the plan includes a 125,000-hectare reduction in wheat planting, with total wheat area set at 12.1 million hectares. This decision, announced by Agriculture Minister Aibarbek Saparov during a government meeting, reflects an emphasis on high-yield crops such as barley, corn, and oilseeds.

The total planting area for 2026 has expanded by 180,000 hectares, reaching 23.8 million hectares. Key changes include:

• Crop production: +242,000 hectares
• Barley: +94,000 hectares
• Corn: +90,000 hectares (to 265,000 hectares)
• Oilseed crops: +55,000 hectares
• Potatoes: +10,300 hectares
• Wheat: -125,000 hectares (to 12.1 million hectares)

Minister Saparov highlighted that 700 billion tenge has been allocated for preferential loans for fieldwork. The application process for the 2026 planting season began in October 2024, earlier than in previous years. To date, 1,900 agricultural enterprises have been financed for 200 billion tenge, representing 30% of the total funding, a 6% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Additionally, 402,000 tons of subsidized diesel fuel have been reserved for the planting season, and the agricultural machinery fleet is expected to see an 8% renewal rate.

Source: Forbes.kz