Agricultural Competitiveness Project

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The Agricultural Competitiveness Project for Kazakhstan will increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector in Kazakhstan. To achieve this objective, the project will facilitate access to markets by supporting measures to improve the quality and safety of agricultural products, enhance access to information, and harmonize standards. The project has the following components: Component 1) will enhance the management of food safety controls and quality certification along the value chain. It comprises two subcomponents: harmonization and development of standards, and quality and safety monitoring. Component 2) will help to enhance agricultural producers' and processors' understanding of markets, improve marketing infrastructure, and facilitate equal access to market information. It comprises two subcomponents: strengthening market information systems, and developing market-oriented infrastructure. Component 3) aims to increase the effectiveness of agricultural research and extension services in Kazakhstan. Component 4) will create the institutional structure to implement project activities and will help the Ministry of Agriculture to establish the policy and institutional framework to improve the competitiveness of the country's agricultural sector. It comprises three subcomponents: institutional structure, project evaluation, and agricultural policy development.