IFPRI CENTRAL ASIA NEWS WEEKLY DIGEST (SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2015)

News and Analysis

Kazakhstan’s President Nazarbayev on GMOs

(TengriNews, 9 Sep 2015) Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev voiced his stance on GMOs and called to launch new national research body to develop country’s agricultural sector, according to the news article. Particularly, meeting governors of Akmolinsk, Kostanai and North Kazakhstan – three major grain producing regions in the country, Nazarbayev expressed his dissatisfaction from the current state of the agriculture-related research in the country and stressed to pay special attention to develop improve the efficiency in the agricultural sector.

Kazakhstan has imposed temporary restriction on some dairy products from Kyrgyzstan and Russia

(AKIpress, 11 Sep 2015)  Kazakhstan has imposed temporary ban on the import and sale of some dairy products and brands from Kyrgyzstan and Russia, informs the article referring to the Consumer Rights Protection Committee of the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan news release. The decision was made based on the results of the analysis of laboratory tests for the 8 months of the current year and on the evidence of repeated violations of the food safety regulations, concluded the press service.

Kyrgyzstan's GDP jumps in Jan-Aug as gold output rises

(Reuters, 10 Sep 2015) Growth in Kyrgyzstan's gross domestic product grew 6.8% year-on-year in January-August, mainly due to Kumtor mine production increase by 58% to 8.9 tons in the first half of 2015, according to the official data. Industrial output jumped by 21.7% in January-August from an 8.5% rise in the same period of 2014. Kumtor alone accounted for 7.4% of Kyrgyz GDP and 15.5% of its industrial output last year.

Dollar rises in price by 80 Tyiyn over a weekend

(24.kg, 14 Sep 2015) Kyrgyz local currency depreciated by about 1.1%, or by 80 Tyiyn, against USD over the weekend, suggest the article. The local currency slightly depreciated against Russian Ruble but remained unchanged against Kazakh Tenge. The article also informs that the local currency has been steadily losing its ground since August 20 when Kazakhstan floated its exchange rate.

Publication

Combating land degradation for food security and provision of soil ecosystem services in Europe and Central Asia – International Year of Soils 2015

(EC. 2015. Background paper for European Commission on Agriculture 39^th Session on 22-23 September in Budapest, Hungary)

Executive Summary for Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC): In Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC), the main drivers of soil degradation are population growth and climate change. The sub-region is facing serious challenges with the need to boost agricultural production, both for internal consumption and for export, amongst increasingly degraded soils and limited water resources, under changing climatic conditions. The main pressure on soil is unsustainable land and water management, aggravated by increased risks of natural disasters such as drought. Soil salinization and soil erosion by water and wind are major threats in this sub-region, which require targeted investment and technical support for the upscaling of integrated natural resources management practices through joint efforts by national governments and international organizations.

Economic Feasibility Study of Canal Plastic Lining in the Aral Sea Basin

(I. Rudenko, S. Salaev, S. Davletov and R. Eshchanov. 2015. In T.S. Lui ed. “Research and Practices in Water Quality”.)

Description: Despite long history of agricultural production based on irrigation, present management of irrigated cropland is increasingly unsustainable and degradation of water and land resources is widespread. The case study covers Khorezm region located in the northwest of Uzbekistan and inhibits 1.7 million people. Irrigated agriculture in Khorezm contributes to more than 50% of the regional income, provides more than 98% of hard cash revenues, and employs more than 60% of the economically active population. The study estimates costs and benefits of placing a plastic liner on the canal bed prior to irrigation season to minimize seepage of irrigation water in the earthen canals.

Studies of pesticide residues in tomatoes and cucumbers from Kazakhstan and the associated health risks

(B. Lozowicka, E. Abzeitova, A. Sagitov, P. Kaczynski, K. Toleubayev and A. Li. 2015. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.)

Abstract Excerpts: The aim of the present study was to assess the level of pesticide residues in vegetables in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan and to determine the potential health risks associated with the exposures to these pesticides. A total of 82 samples of cucumbers and tomatoes from top agro-based market and greenhouses were analyzed using…a multiresidue method to analyse 184 different pesticide types. The results indicated that more than half of samples (59 %) contained 29 pesticides, in which 10 are not registered in Kazakhstan, ranging from 0.01 to 0.88 mg kg−1, and 28 % contained pesticide residues above maximum residue levels (MRLs)… The most critical commodity is triazophos and flusilazole in tomatoes, contributing 70.8 and 42.5 % to the acute hazard index (aHI). The results provided important information on the current pesticide contamination status of two commonly consumed vegetables and pointed an urgent need to control the use of plant protection products applied, especially potentially persistent pesticides, such as endosulfan and dicofol. These results also show that the detected pesticides may be considered a public health problem.