The Centre of the Agrarian Competences of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan "Atameken" began to teach agribusiness entities to innovation and the basics of effective agribusiness management

Currently, more than 217 000 existing agricultural units are engaged in the production of agricultural products in Kazakhstan. Most agricultural producers do not have special education or their professional skills are concentrated only in certain highly specialized areas of agriculture.

Development of the system of dissemination of knowledge is a major component of the program "Agribusiness 2020". The program is planned to develop the transfer of knowledge in all areas of agribusiness and thereby provide practical training, consulting and methodological support in all regions of Kazakhstan.

The Address of the President of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev to people of Kazakhstan on January 17, 2014 "Kazakhstan’s path - 2050: Common goal, common interests, common future" noted the need for transition of agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan into innovative rails.

In order to ensure direct access of rural producers to the results of science, technology and innovation, as well as the accelerated introduction of advanced technologies in agricultural production, it is necessary to create an effective system for spread of knowledge.

Given that the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan "Atameken" represents the interests of small, medium and large businesses, encompassing all business sectors, it has experience in training, retraining, professional development, certification and assessment of personnel, as well as an extensive regional network and high competence. The state order to establish an effective system of distribution of knowledge in the field of agriculture was assigned to it.

Under NCE RK "Atameken" was created the Center of Agrarian Competences, which aims to become an advanced service of extension in agriculture. The main activity of the Center is arrange courses of professional development to agrarian entrepreneurs, development of training programs and methods aimed at teaching practical skills, application of advanced technologies by subjects of agro-industrial complex.

In addition, the Center of Agrarian Competences will exercise the functions of information and consultation of agribusiness entities, it will conduct analytical studies of agribusiness markets, attract foreign experts and specialists to exchange experiences and to develop practical recommendations for the agribusiness entities.

This year the Center of Agrarian Competences within the frames of the execution of the state order of the Ministry of Agriculture for informational support of agribusiness entities will hold 666 toll-free seminars in 25 priority areas of agro-industrial complex, covering about 10 thousand subjects of agrarian and industrial complex.

Today, within the framework of the state order, the Centre developes techniques for workshops, information-analytical portal for farmers of the country, which includes the option to create blogs for foreign and Kazakh experts, project lecturers, the opportunity for listeners to assess experts and speakers, webinars and online -consultations, sections for ads and forums, as well as 25 modules for priority areas of AIC.

Acall center for the agribusiness entities was also launched. All agricultural producers and farmers of the country can call by the number 59 79 60. The call is free from all regions of Kazakhstan, and the number is dialed without the area code of Astana. For residents of Almaty the telephone number of the call center is 2 59 79 60.

In addition, we conducted work on search and attraction of local and foreign experts. Agreements have been reached with the advanced farms, at which will be held seminars. The Regional Chambers of entrepreneurs carry out activities on preparation of seminars, lunch breaks and rent of transport.

Training seminars are held from 1 to 5 days depending on the coverage of topics, by specially developed methods for each region and direction individually. The target group of students is formed for each seminar.

The workshops include a theoretical part (lectures, explaining the general principles of action and the order of the use of advanced technologies and techniques) and practical part (practical application of advanced technologies and techniques, with the possibility to listen and to apply the lesson into practice).

Topics of seminars cover all the main areas of agro-industrial complex:

1) technological issues of agriculture, in particular, the application of advanced technologies in crop production, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, processing of agricultural products, as well as the planned coverage of organic farming issues, which, in turn, will contribute to the development of the principles of "green" economy of Kazakhstan;

2) agricultural management, in particular, enterprise management, financial planning, pricing, marketing, organization, business planning, risk management. Co-operation, agriculture state support measures;

3) implementation of research results and the transfer of advanced technology, the basics of commercialization and dissemination of national experience in applying innovations.

Topics are formed on the basis of the collection and study of information obtained directly from agribusiness entities.

As part of the project the direct counseling of agribusiness entities is provided by highly qualified Kazakhstani experts directly with the visit to the regions and the farms (at the seminars), in order to provide practical assistance to agribusiness entities in the decision process (situational) targets and the introduction of modern technologies, as well as through an Internet portal and Call-center.

Within the framework of educational seminars on horticulture, students will be provided with detailed information on the technology and service support throughout the growing season of crops, cultivation technologies, including the selection of crops, crop rotation systems, varieties and resources for the care and protection of plants. At the workshops on livestock, students will gain knowledge about reproductive technologies, the creation of fodder, feeding and farm animals, information on diagnosis, prevention and treatment of farm animals, as well as advice on other technological issues.

In order to conduct high-quality seminars, the Centre of Agrarian Competences at the end of July planned training of Kazakhstani specialists trainers (lecturers). During July the Center of Agrarian Competence intends to hold more than 150 seminars in 14 regions of the country.

Rakhimbek Toleutai Sataevich was appointed the Director of the Centre of Agrarian Competences.

T. Rakhimbekov has many years of experience in the Ministry of Agriculture, he is the founder of several institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazAgroInnovation, Kazakhstani Center for modernization and development of housing and communal services), academician of KazNAU, doctor of economic sciences.