China to make Kazakhstan a part of the Central Asia “grain corridor”

Almaty. February 2. Silkroadnews – China to take an active part in modernization of agriculture in Central Asia (CA) and create a “grain corridor” to contribute to sustainable development of the regional economy, “Xinhua” agency writes.

“Within “One Belt, One Road” initiative (the economic zone of the Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road of the XXI century) it is necessary to develop resources of arable land in Central Asia and turn the region into the world-class granary”, expert of center for study of Russia and Central Asian under Academy of International Studies at the University of “Fudan” Xu Haiyan says.

Kazakhstan is one of the region’s largest grain producers. The construction of granaries should be promoted in the Ishim River Basin in northern Kazakhstan and then proceed within the rest of the Central Asian countries – Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Xu Haiyan also added.

From Kazakhstan to China grain can be transported through the “Alashankou” checkpoint, then along the economic corridor China-Pakistan and through the Pakistani port of Gwadar to South Asia and Africa that suffer food shortages, the expert explained.

According to her, the construction of “grain corridor” will also contribute to cover deficit of grain in China and serve to cooperation in the field of production capacity between China and Central Asian countries.

China could help Central Asian countries to raise grain production, Xu Haiyan said, noting that this will require optimization of water resources use and provide enormous resources for water saving technologies in Central Asia.
She also notes, at present Central Asia has 38 million hectares of arable land, of which about 74%, i.e. 28 million hectares belong to Kazakhstan. In future, the total area of arable land in the region could reach 60 million hectares, and the annual grain harvest to amount to 225 million tonnes. The export volume is expected to reach 160 million tonnes.