Importance of zero-tillage with high stubble to trap snow and increase wheat yields in Northern Kazakhstan

In the northern part of Kazakhstan, zero-tillage2 technology has the potential to increase wheat/grain productivity by 20 to 50 percent above current levels. However, phasing out conventional tillage can only be gradual, as full conversion to zero-tillage will require important investments and farm organizational changes. Actual current area under conservation agriculture (CA) appears to be increasing significantly every year, and is now estimated to be 1.2 million hectares. The country has, in the medium-term (3-5 years), the capacity to adopt conservation agriculture on about 30-40 percent of the cereal cropped area (3 to 4 million ha) with adequate investment. The possible average production increase from this achievement could be of about 1 million additional tonnes of wheat annually. In the longer term, wide adoption of CA technology would bring a global benefit by contributing to improved carbon storage, which would also have a positive effect on climate change due to decreased greenhouse gas emissions. The World Bank-financed Agricultural Competitiveness Project, which is being assisted by FAO’s Investment Centre Division, is supporting CA expansion through its Competitive Grant Scheme. Continued support and increased emphasis could contribute to improving food security and the overall cereal and grain production system competitiveness (increased production at lower costs).