Last weekend, 92 agricultural fairs were held across the country's regions. Over 1,000 agricultural producers and suppliers participated. The focus was on selling beef at below-market prices, as well as expanding the product range to include vegetables, dairy products, and other seasonal agricultural produce.

The largest volume of beef sales was recorded in the Karaganda region, where over 52 tons of meat were sold. Astana and Almaty also saw brisk trade: 45.5 tons were sold in Astana, and 35 tons in Almaty. In Astana, beef prices ranged from 3,200 to 3,500 tenge, while in Almaty the average price was 3,150 tenge, 5% below market value. The fairs were highly popular in both cities: approximately 40,000 people attended in Astana and over 30,000 in Almaty.

In the Aktobe region, 25 tons of beef were sold at a stable price of 2,700 tenge per kilogram, almost 8% below the market average. In the Kostanay region, approximately 11 tons of meat were sold, and the price was also below the average at 2,925 tenge. In Shymkent, 6.2 tons of beef were sold at an average price of 3,400 tenge per kilogram.

In several regions, beef prices were significantly below market prices. For example, in the Pavlodar region, the average price was 2,400 tenge, 24% below the official price. In the Kyzylorda and Turkestan regions, the price remained at 2,500 tenge, deviating from the market price by 18% and 13%, respectively. In the Akmola region, a decrease of over 13% was also recorded, with 1.1 tons of meat sold.

The eastern regions showed moderate sales volumes. About 1 ton of beef was sold in the East Kazakhstan region, and 0.6 tonnes in the North Kazakhstan region, with prices in both regions 10-14% below market prices. In Mangystau and Atyrau, sales volumes were less than 1 tonne, but the fairs were well attended. In Aktau, for example, over 30,000 people attended the event.

Fairs were also held in regional capitals and rural areas of the Zhambyl, Abay, Zhetysu, Ulytau, and Almaty regions. In most of them, in addition to meat, vegetables, dairy products, honey, and other locally produced products were actively offered. In the Zhambyl region, over 30 tonnes of melons, potatoes, and feed were also sold.

In total, over 203 tonnes of beef were sold throughout the republic during the week. The average price was 3,085 tenge per kilogram, 3.9% lower than the level recorded by the Bureau of National Statistics. According to preliminary estimates, the total number of fair visitors was over 190,000.

The fairs will continue to be organized and held in the fall. The Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with the akimats, plans to expand the geography of the events and further maintain prices for socially important food products.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/1077738?lang=kk