Kazakhstan is facing its worst spring floods in more than 80 years following heavy snowmelt.
The most critical situation is developing in Atyrau, Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanay, East Kazakhstan, North Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions.
Today, the flood situation remains a major problem for residents of many regions.
Historically, populated areas have been located near a few rivers in Kazakhstan, so meltwater caused greater damage to personal farmsteads and small livestock farms; cases of flooding of grain warehouses with seed material stored in them were recorded. Naturally, road traffic is paralyzed in flood zones, and therefore farmers experience difficulties in preparing for spring field work (purchasing necessary materials, selling leftover products). However, all power is now being used to save people and their property.
According to the monitoring carried out by ZM, of all the grain-growing regions, the most difficult situation is observed in the Kostanay region.
At the moment, in a number of regions of the Kostanay region, the peak of floods has passed; according to agribusinessmen, 4 districts remain flooded - Beimbeta Mailina, Kostanay, Karasu and Fedorovsky. The situation in the fields is difficult - there is a lot of moisture, completely flooded arable land, but farmers tend to attribute this to a plus, believing that excess moisture is better than its lack.
If we talk about the sowing time, then from the comments of agribusinessmen it follows that the sowing time will be divided into temporary stages. Those who plan to sow fields in a targeted manner will sow on time if there are suitable sowing conditions - access of equipment to the fields, the right condition of the soil for cultivation. And whoever waits for the moisture to evaporate will have a slightly delayed time frame. But the general mood at the beginning of the sowing season is mostly optimistic. According to the farmer: “Nothing can scare us anymore, we have survived drought and floods, and this year we only hope for a decent harvest.”
In the Akmola region, according to agribusinessmen, the situation in the fields due to floods is not so critical.
In the Arshalynsky district, they expect a drought this year and plan to start sowing earlier, which cannot be said about the Zharkainsky district - there is an excess of moisture there, and the sowing campaign will begin late. The main thing, agribusinessmen emphasize in conversation, is that the fertile humus is not washed away. In Atbasarsky, Sandyktausky and Tselinogradsky and other regions there is no large water in the fields; they plan to start sowing within the recommended time frame.
In the North Kazakhstan region, almost all agribusinessmen hope for the fields to dry out quickly by the beginning - mid-May, i.e. directly within the recommended sowing time. There are no special worries about this. There are some concerns about the saturation of the soil with moisture, which may briefly delay sowing dates, but not everywhere.
In some areas of the region, in particular in the Yesilsky district, the fields are only receiving moisture; time will tell how the situation will develop further. In the Taiynshinsky district, the water is gradually receding, but a second wave is expected. The fields are already full, but there are fears that the fertile layer of soil will be washed away. The situation is difficult in the area of Gabit Musrepov, flooded fields are not dangerous for agriculture, water is more dangerous for residential settlements. Sowing dates will depend on the weather.
In the Pavlodar region, floods affected isolated areas. The sowing dates will not be shifted; the fields will dry out before the sowing campaign. This year, according to agribusinessmen, is expected to be dry. The most severe floods affected the Aktogay and Irtysh regions. If the fields do not dry out, the sowing dates will be delayed. There are concerns that there will be soil erosion in the fields. Agribusinessmen hope that there will be no significant losses due to floods.
In the Karaganda region, there were practically no major floods. The rain spoiled the picture a little, but the situation is normal. I plan to start the sowing campaign in early May, once the earth warms up, but, according to agribusinessmen, the fertile layer will be washed away in some places.
In the Aktobe region, the flood causes great difficulties. According to agribusinessmen, every year the edges of fields are washed away by water, but this year the coverage was much greater. If we talk about the consequences, it depends on the weather conditions during the growing season. In general, the situation in the fields is not critical, everything is going according to plan. At the moment, the water is receding, the ground is swollen, and the fields cannot be reached yet. The sowing campaign will take place within the recommended time frame. Agribusinessmen of the Aktobe region fear big problems with pests this year.
In Western Kazakhstan, namely from the grain-growing regions, the Baiterek region suffered due to floods, but today the water has passed, the condition of the fields is average, severe consequences from the floods are not expected. Agribusinessmen are concerned with the question: where did the water come from, what was in its path and how the consequences will affect the yield, as well as what measures need to be taken at the state level to minimize damage from such natural disasters in the future.
In the Abay region, the flood passed, the fertile layer was not damaged. After the rains come, agribusinessmen plan to start the sowing campaign, around the beginning of May. The Kokpekty region suffered the most from the flood: a lot of water comes from the mountains, usually water from the mountains comes after April 15, but this year the snow began to melt early. “Water entered the field, so the fertile layer was washed away, clay was visible,” summarizes the farmer of the Kokpektinsky district. Sowing in this area will take place with a delay - no earlier than May 15.
There were floods in the East Kazakhstan region, but not large ones. In general, the situation is stable. Everything is smooth in the fields, sowing is planned within the recommended time frame. But the problem now is precipitation, there are torrential rains, there is no way to get to the field.
In Almaty and Zhetysu regions, the flood situation is stable. There were no major floods, everything was quiet. Agribusinessmen are preparing for sowing.