June 6, 2008 - Kazakhstan can withstand food crisis and prepare for climate change - this and other conclusions were made during the First International Forum "Sustainable Development of the Eurasian Continent" sensationally held in Astana during June 3-5, 2008. The Forum gathered high-level participants from more than 10 countries, such as Islamic Republic of Iran, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, France, USA, Great Britain, and some others. In the Memorandum of the 1st International Forum the participants jointly stated that they were "moved by recognition of the fact that only by immediately joining forces we can change the crisis situation on the Earth and open the way for a comprehensive development alternative in XXI century - development in harmony with the eternal law of nature." In his welcome address to the Forum's participants World Bank Agriculturist Jitendra Srivastava noted: "There is a clear view that economic development without environmental development is to fail. Regional approach is really commendable for all countries in the region and this is a key to sustainable development." Kazakhstan inherited one of the greatest agricultural challenges among former Soviet states: 180 mln hectares of dry lands, previously used as pastures are now degrading. Shall this trend continue, Kazakhstan may lose its agricultural lands in 50-60 years. Some lands are already threatened by desertification and this may have crucial implications on such global issues as climate change, food security and rural poverty.
One of the "success stories" highlighted during the Forum was Kazakhstan Drylands Management Project, a 10 mln dollar pilot project supported by the Government of Kazakhstan and GEF, and administered by the World Bank. The Project aims to demonstrate and promote sustainable land uses in the marginal drylands ecosystem (low humus, fragile soils, less than 300 mm of annual rainfall and high summer temperatures) in the pilot area of Shetsky rayon, the southern part of Karaganda oblast. Minister of Environmental Protection Nurlan Iskakov said: "I consider this Project as the best World Bank project in the region. It earnestly demonstrated results on fighting desertification. I also believe that the Project is to demonstrate how people can withstand global environmental challenges. We plan to extrapolate the experience gained in Shetskiy rayon of Karaganda oblast to the other regions in Kazakhstan." Indeed, results are encouraging: - The total area restored by the project so far is 27000 ha
- Two/three-year-old Agropyron fields gave yields of around 1.5 tones/ha of dry matter compared to natural pastures' yield of 0.5 tones/ha of dry matter.
- Growing farmers' income due to increased livestock (the number of participating farms exceeds 100).
- Many farmers are adopting grass plantings on their own.
- Steppes get a chance to recover for ecological balance
According to Jitendra Srivastava, World Bank Agriculturist, "By few simple things farmers managed to increase productivity several folds!"
The third day of the Forum included a field trip to the Drylands Management Project area in Shetskiy Rayon. Representatives of various national, international and foreign organizations evidenced the green steppe and other Project achievements.
Bulat Utekolov, World Bank Project leader: "It is essential to understand that tools used to resolve the problem of degradation - sowing perennials and putting remote watering points for animals to promote grazing on much vaster territories - have direct impact on addressing such challenges as climate change and food crisis. Grass sequesters carbon and contributes to reducing "greenhouse effect". Livestock raised on grass is the way out of food crisis, as wheat and other grain crops will not be used for forage but left for humans." The event itself and the Project very well correspond to the recent 10-point plan for the food crisis, proposed by Mr. Zoellick, President of World Bank Group, where it says: "…there needs to be more investment in agribusiness so that we can tap the private sector's ability to work across the value chain: developing sustainable lands and water… we need to develop innovative instruments for risk management and crop insurance for small farmers…".
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