Kazakhstan’s national grain operator, Food Contract Corporation, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan have signed a cooperation agreement under the FOLUR initiative to promote sustainable agriculture and protect ecosystems in Northern Kazakhstan. The project is supported by the Global Environment Facility and the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.
Under the agreement, UNDP will provide around $2 million in grant funding for a pilot project that includes scientific research, international expertise, and financial support for farmers.
The partnership will offer forward financing for agricultural producers over three years to grow legumes and perennial grasses, such as lentils and alfalfa, while adopting modern agrotechnologies and crop rotation practices.
UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan Katarzyna Wawiernia noted that the initiative aims to strengthen food security and help farmers transition to sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
The Corporation's Chairman Asylkhan Dzhuwashev highlighted that Kazakhstan is the first Central Asian country to join the FOLUR program. The cooperation with UNDP will help diversify crop areas and introduce new mechanisms to support agribusiness development in the country.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture