OREANDA-NEWS. May 30, 2014. 21.8 million hectares of land is planned to be sown this year, which is 1.5% more than in 2013. It has been announced by Agriculture Minister Asylzhan Mamytbekov at a briefing in Central Communications Service under the President.

According to him, 15.9 million hectares will be under grain crops, 2 million ha – oilseeds, 3.4 million hectares - fodder, 410 thousand hectares - cucurbitaceous and potatoes.

"At the moment, sowing of spring crops, except maize and rice is completed in the south and about 79% of the planned area is sown in western and eastern regions," the Minister said.

As of May 27, sowing of spring crops was held on an area of about 9244.9 million hectares or 61% of planned. And the rate of spring crops sowing, except cereal crops, cotton and sugar beet is higher than last year.