Improving the efficiency of the vegetable growing industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan: a practical aspect

Ensuring food security is a priority for the Republic of Kazakhstan. Food security is directly dependent on the sustainable growth of agricultural production, including vegetable production. This article examines the dynamics of agricultural development in the Republic of Kazakhstan and identifies the role of the vegetable industry within the country's agricultural sector. The average analyzed indicators over two five-year periods indicate that the vegetable industry is a dynamically developing sector. The structure of the crop production industry in monetary terms has been studied, revealing a growing trend. In the structure of crop production in monetary terms, vegetable products showed a downward trend. A more in-depth analysis of the structure of vegetable products in natural terms was conducted, which revealed that the main source of vegetable products is the production of open-field vegetables, which has been declining over the past five years, while there is an increasing interest in the production of closed-field vegetables. In the structure of open-field vegetable production in Kazakhstan, carrots, beets, and tomatoes have been leading in terms of production in the period from 2019 to 2023. Compared to the period from 2014 to 2018, the production of these types of vegetables has decreased. It was these structural shifts that led to a decrease in the vegetable industry's share in the overall crop production in monetary terms. The study of the dynamics and structure of vegetable sales revealed a number of organizational and technological challenges in the distribution process. In conclusion, the paper proposes a set of measures aimed at ensuring sustainable growth in the vegetable industry in Kazakhstan, which will significantly contribute to food security.