OSCE promotes organic farming in Kazakhstan
KYZYLORDA, Kazakhstan, 16 July 2015 – Sustainable agricultural development and green growth principles were in the focus of an OSCE-supported seminar, which was held today in Kyzylorda, southern Kazakhstan, to assist the country in its transition to green economy.
Co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the Coalition for a Green Economy and G-Global Development, with the support of the regional Chamber of Commerce, the seminar discussed the state’s role in setting up a legal framework for effective organic farming and in providing incentives for agribusiness. It also reviewed the draft law on organic farming, developed by the lower Chamber of Kazakhstan’s Parliament, Majilis, and, currently, a subject of public consultations.
Farmers and entrepreneurs joined the seminar’s 30 participants to learn national and international best practices and the use of modern technology for organic farming and rational use of water resources. Representatives of regional authorities, the country’s leading agricultural research institutions, the agribusiness community and civil society were amongst the seminars speakers.
The event also involved a site visit to a local drip irrigation facility, where participants had a chance to test the benefits of organic food production.
In 2015, the Office will conduct two more awareness-raising seminars on this topic in the country’s regions aimed, in particular, at facilitating the public and expert discussions on draft legislation on organic agriculture.
The seminars are part of the Office’s long-standing efforts to promote green growth and sustainable development principles. It is a follow-up to the OSCE-supported activities to promote Kazakhstan’s transition to a green economy and to assist the implementation of the national programme for 2013-2020.