Kazakhstan’s Dairy Self-Sufficiency Journey: Challenges and Ambitions

Vladimir Kozhevnikov, the Executive Director of the Dairy Union of Kazakhstan, envisions the nation achieving full dairy self-sufficiency by 2027. Currently, Kazakhstan's dairy sector faces a range of challenges, from quality control issues to competition with imports. The cattle population has increased to 9.6 million head, with over 100 new dairy farms set to boost annual production by 600,000 tonnes. However, over half the milk is produced by small farms, leading to inconsistencies in quality.

Export volumes are modest, comprising just 6% of national production. While Kazakhstan is nearly self-sufficient in basic dairy products, it still relies on imports for value-added products like cheese and butter. The competition from Russian and Belarusian producers, due to their government support, presents further economic challenges. Despite this, the goal remains to maintain national food security through domestic production.

The sector also contends with broader economic impacts such as rising energy costs and pressure from modern dietary trends requiring adaptation. While some advanced technologies and automation are present in the industry, many farms remain traditional, posing challenges in workforce attraction. Nevertheless, optimism remains regarding self-sufficiency in basic dairy products by 2027.