American International Journal of Social Science

Kazakhstani Agribusiness Supply Chain: Issues and Challenges
Professor Krishan Rana

Abstract
Kazakhstan, the largest in the Central Asia with an area of 2,724,900 square kilometers, has the largest oil, gas, and mineral deposits. Its gross national index (GNI) is $11380 as in 2013, which categorizes it as upper middle economy. Its population of sixteen million is almost one hundred percent literate. The development of its economy and increase in GNI at the rate of almost twenty-five percent per year has enabled a high standard of living, increase in consumer spending, and people’s preferences towards high quality processed and packaged food. Agribusiness supply chain plays a prominent role not only in providing quality consumer products at affordable prices, but also significantly contributing to economy. Nevertheless, the current supply chains, not only of agribusiness but also of other products and services, have several issues and challenges. Some of them pertain to policy matters, tariff regulation, and transportation and logistics infrastructure. Although several agencies are working to make their systems efficient and cost effective, there exists a considerable room for improvement. From the point of view of supply chain management, it has come up a long way during the last two decades, mainly due to international, developmental, and private foreign investments. Additionally, encouraging government policies and sustained investments in the agribusiness have enabled the nation to make significant progress. This paper provides an insight of Kazakhstani agribusiness to researchers, businessmen, and investors and what issues and challenges its agribusiness supply chain faces.

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