Strategic approaches to the sustainable development of agricultural landscapes in the Zhambyl region in the context of food security

Over the past decades, efforts have been made to develop irrigation and pasture infrastructure
across significant areas of seasonal pastures within the state land fund of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
However, the current level of fodder base development remains insufficient to fully meet the needs of
the livestock sector, thereby limiting the growth potential of agricultural production. A key strategy for
intensifying pasture management lies in the efficient use of pasture and fodder resources through the
implementation of rotational grazing systems that prevent land degradation. Within the framework of
the Agro-Industrial Complex Development Concept, a central objective is the restoration and
preservation of the productivity of agricultural landscapes, many of which are affected by various
forms of land degradation. Currently, the region is experiencing a decline in both the qualitative and
quantitative characteristics of agricultural land, including a 6-27 % decrease in humus content on
irrigated lands, wind erosion across 2.4 million hectares of farmland, and an increase of 1.4 million
hectares in degraded pasture areas. These processes have led to substantial income losses among
agricultural producers, largely due to water scarcity and the deterioration of agricultural landscapesincluding
irrigated lands, hayfields, and pastures. Consequently, the region is facing growing socioeconomic
tensions, marked by declining rural living standards and reduced volumes of agricultural
output.