Saiga antelope and drought slash Akmola region grain harvest to 13 c/ha

September 27, 2026 at 04:08 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Farmers in Kazakhstan's Akmola region harvested an average of 13 centners per hectare this year, down sharply from 2025, after saiga antelope damaged crops in five districts and drought hit several areas. Some producers reported yields as low as 5 c/ha, and regional officials said losses were widespread despite state subsidies for fencing.

Key Facts

Average grain yield in Akmola region fell to 13 centners per hectare in 2026, down from 17 c/ha in 2025.
Saiga antelope damaged crops in Korgalzhyn, Tselinograd, Egindykol, Atbasar and Astrakhan districts.
Timur Pshenov, director of En Dala LLP, said saiga consumed 6,000 hectares across two of his farms.
Deputy Abilkaiyr Oshakbaev reported his wheat yield dropped from 17 c/ha in 2025 to 5 c/ha in 2026.
The state provided subsidies for fencing nets and posts, but farmers said large fields cannot be fenced.

Saiga Damage

Saiga antelope damaged crops in Korgalzhyn, Tselinograd, Egindykol, Atbasar and Astrakhan districts of Akmola region. Farmers spent much of the summer driving saiga off fields, but the animals returned by evening and showed no fear of people or vehicles. Timur Pshenov, general director of En Dala LLP and director of Manshuk-AE LLP, said saiga consumed 6,000 hectares across two of his farms. Pshenov called for licensed hunting of saiga so the animals would fear humans, noting that driving them away by car was often ineffective. Abilkaiyr Oshakbaev, chairman of the regional maslikhat's agrarian commission, said saiga numbers were slightly lower than in 2025 but still trampled crops in many districts.

Drought and Yield Losses

Hot, rainless weather in mid-summer worsened crop conditions in several districts of Akmola region. Average regional yield fell to 13 centners per hectare, with drought-affected areas reporting much lower figures. Abilkaiyr Oshakbaev said his wheat yield dropped from 17 c/ha in 2025 to 5 c/ha in 2026. Oshakbaev acknowledged the region would not match the previous year's harvest, though areas that received rain fared better.

State Support and Fencing Limits

The state subsidized fencing nets and posts to help farmers protect crops from saiga. Oshakbaev said small farmers can fence their fields, but large farms with fields 50 km by 50 km cannot realistically enclose them. He warned that fencing every farm would turn the land into a maze of barriers, with 10-15 farms per rural district. Oshakbaev noted that an autumn cull was approved only after saiga had already left the fields, making it ineffective for crop protection.