Current Status and Future Prospects of Soybean Production in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is an agrarian country with 270 million hectares utilized for animal and crop production. The foremost objective of the state agriculture programs in Kazakhstan is to achieve food security of country on the basis of competitive crop production. Demand for soybean as an oil crop and animal feed is steadily growing in Kazakhstan and hence soybeans can be a great attribute for food security in this region. Currently, over 90% of all soybean production is concentrated in one region (Almaty) because the crop is highly sensitive to photoperiod and temperature. The climatological conditions in majority of the region pose difficulties in growing the soybeans. In this review, we discussed the impact of the geographical and environmental conditions in enhancing the soybean cultivation in different parts of Kazakhstan. Additionally, we have taken an account of current status of soybean production and the barriers that may have great influence on the soybean yield. Because soybean is a short-day plant, the main role in its adaptation to areas in Kazakhstan is played by its E genes (maturity and flowering genes), the exploitation of which constitutes the primary challenge for the expansion of soybean cultivation. Besides, we have proposed candidate regions for soybean expansion, including Almaty, Zhambyl (south), East Kazakhstan and Kostanay (north). Expanding soybean production in Kazakhstan and in Central Asia could be addressed using competitive education, application of modern scientific methods and cutting-edge breeding technologies, appropriate financing, and productive strategies to develop superior cultivars with tolerance to abiotic stresses.