Innovation activity in agriculture in Kazakhstan: approaches to assessment, priority directions

Modern approaches to innovative development of agriculture in Kazakhstan are considered. The relevance of the study is conditioned by the need to modernize and increase the competitiveness of the agrarian sector of the republic in rapidly changing market and technological conditions. Despite the fact that the advantages of innovation in agro-industrial complex are widely recognized, the rate of its implementation in the country still remains at a low level. In order to study the constraints of innovative entrepreneurship we studied the crop production sector, where new, advanced technologies are more actively used. In livestock farming 64 % of gross output falls on household farms, so the process of introduction of innovations is slower. In general, the process of renewal and technical re-equipment of agro-industrial production is difficult due to the lack of a comprehensive approach to the management of innovation activity, representing the coordinated actions of the state, science and representatives of commercial structures. The aim is to identify the main problems of startups' development in the agrarian sphere and to determine their potential opportunities in order to increase the efficiency and sustainability of agro-formations. Methods - analytical and comparative were used to substantiate the conclusion about low innovation activity of agribusiness, mathematical tools were used in the quantitative assessment of economic indicators, graphic - visually reflects the results of research, Case Study demonstrates the practical adaptation of theoretical provisions. Results - the current state and prospects of developments of innovative character in the agro-industrial complex, the dynamics of their indicators in agricultural enterprises and small forms of management are analyzed. The main reasons hindering the introduction of innovations in crop production are shown. Conclusions - the author's position is proposed in the conclusion - expansion of digital transformation, organization of training programs for farmers, creation of platforms for interaction between scientists, agricultural producers and representatives of private firms and companies