Mikhail Mishchenko outlined the main problems of the dairy industry in Kazakhstan

At the beginning of his speech, Mikhail Mishchenko presented official statistics on milk consumption in Kazakhstan and indicators of milk yield per cow in agricultural organizations and peasant farms. He demonstrated how the increase in population in Kazakhstan affects the growth of per capita spending on milk and, in general, the growth of consumption of milk and dairy products in the country.

The volume of milk production in Kazakhstan is 6,317,872 tons. The largest producer among the regions is the Turkestan region, including the city of Shymkent, - 818,990 tons.

At the same time, milk production in agricultural enterprises across the country is 522,395 tons, in peasant farms and individual entrepreneurs - 1,366,383 tons, in private household plots - 4,429,451 tons.

If we compare the dairy indicators of Kazakhstan with production volumes in Russia, the Turkestan region with its 5.32 people per cow (with private household plots) is comparable to the Bryansk region, where this figure is still slightly higher - 5.44 people per cow. It is necessary to take into account, the expert points out, that the Bryansk region ranks 29th in Russia in milk production.

During his speech, Mikhail Mishchenko focused attention on the discrepancy between statistics on milk production and its processing across the country.

“It seems to me that everything is more or less clear with the production of raw milk in Kazakhstan. But we clearly understand that the milk processing market in the country is not transparent, a lot of milk is processed, sold unofficially and is not controlled in any way,” the expert commented.

Saule Zhankina, in response to questions from Mikhail Mishchenko, told the audience that “these 700 thousand tons went in the form of powdered milk and finished products for import.”

“Central Asia today is home to 71 million people - this is a large market, especially in the south; according to our data, the milk deficit is 2.2 million tons in southern Kazakhstan. At the same time, the population in all countries plans to grow,” said Mikhail Mishchenko. - The production and processing of milk is given a powerful impetus to development by the technological industry, this is the departure from animals as such, growing meat from cells. You need to understand that the global industry today is facing new things, but the dairy industry is conservative, it is under great threat, including livestock farming in Kazakhstan. At the same time, the working conditions are not similar; what can be obtained in the laboratory is much easier to grow.”

At the end of his speech, the director of the Dairy Market Research Center (DIA) shared his conclusions about the prospects for the development of the dairy market in Kazakhstan: “The milk shortage in Kazakhstan is large, and it will grow. Milk processing creates demand for raw milk. If it is possible to purchase cheap raw milk in Russia, Kazakhstani processors will purchase it. Today in Kazakhstan there are very weak processing technologies, an opaque market, there is no interest of processors in the quality of raw materials, hence the weak integration. Cooperation is especially needed in the south of Kazakhstan. I also always say that there is no long-term development program in the industry.”

In turn, the Deputy Director of the Dairy Union of Kazakhstan also shared her findings and responded to Mikhail Mishchenko’s statements.

“I agree with the statement about the acute shortage of milk in the country. Today, the work of livestock breeders is not attractive, young people are leaving the villages. But still, factories in Kazakhstan are changing, trying to develop, change their base, integration is underway, most often this is a financial connection - factories give commodity loans to farmers. Factories try to provide farmers with materials and tools. Using the example of Croatia, I can say that order in the processing sector can also be restored. In Croatia, milk accounting was done through veterinary services and laboratories. There the quality and quantity of milk is monitored. We have repeatedly shared this experience, including with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. I agree about integration, there are cooperatives in Kazakhstan, but they are not enough. I believe the reason for failure is the lack of an entrepreneurial idea, energy, and interest. If it happens, everything will work out,” summed up Saule Zhankina.

The I International Conference AqAltyn - Dairy Industry of Kazakhstan will be held on November 28, 2023 in Turkestan, Kazakhstan.

General partner: Clever Machines

Technology partner: Kieselmann

Altyn Sponsor: Borte Engineering

Altyn Sponsor: ANR Engineering

Altyn Sponsor: Aseptic Packaging

Official partners: National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken ", Dairy Union of Kazakhstan , Republican Chamber of Dairy and Combined Breeds of Cattle , FRANCE GROUP

Sponsor: Tauras-Fenix