Kazakhstani Ministry of Agriculture Faces Criticism from President

President Kassym Jomart Tokayev has released Saparkhan Omarov, the minister of agriculture from office.

On July 10 during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s government, President Tokayev said he believes the minister of agriculture should quit because it is the right decision due to the situation with the loss of cattle and forage shortage in the Mangystau and Kyzylorda regions.

«The Ministry has failed to take rapid and bold decisions, even though this is exactly what it is supposed to do. Therefore, I think that Saparkhan Omarov should quit the office,» said the president. 

According to Prime Minister Askar Mamin. the rate of loss of cattle in the Mangystau and Kyzylorda regions has reached 0.13% and 0.03% respectively. The reason these figures have grown is unusual weather conditions in the regions.

To take the situation under control, Kazakhstan authorities have created a crisis center. It has to coordinate efforts on problem-solving. For example, the Food Contract Corporation has provided more than 600 tons of barley to the afflicted regions and made a contract for 766,000 tons of food and forage grains.

Saparkhan Omarov had held the office since February 2019. Earlier he worked as vice minister of agriculture, member of Accounts Committee for Control over Execution of the Republican Budget, and vice president of the Food Contract Corporation.