From August 26 to September 17 of this year, a group of specialists from the Ministry of National Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan participated in the JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program for Young Leaders, “Agriculture and Rural Development (Food Value Chain)”, held in Tsukuba, Japan. The training group also included representatives from Botswana, The Gambia, India, Liberia, Mozambique, and Zambia.

Our international group conducted an in-depth study of the Food Value Chain Mapping methodology, with particular attention to identifying hidden bottlenecks between production stages, implementing rigorous raw material quality standards, and optimizing logistics flows from producers to end consumers.

The program included an intensive theoretical component in Tsukuba, complemented by practical site visits across several Japanese prefectures. In particular, learning about the structure of Japan’s agricultural cooperatives (the JA model), visiting the country’s largest wholesale market (Ota Market), food-processing facilities, and prefectural research institutes enabled participants to observe the entire cycle from “farm to table” in practice. As a representative of the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan, I found the sessions on quality standardization under the Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS), Kaizen management principles, and methods for reducing losses during storage and distribution especially valuable.

For Kazakhstan, a key grain exporter in Central Asia with significant potential in its northern agricultural belt, the modernization of agrologistics and the transition from raw commodity exports to value-added processing are critically important for achieving national strategic objectives. In my professional activities at the Ministry of National Economy, the analytical evaluation of investment projects in the agro-industrial sector requires advanced approaches to assessing value creation. The methods studied in Japan, including loss diagnostics throughout the value chain, elements of the JAS framework, and process optimization principles, provide a strong foundation for improving the domestic regulatory environment and promoting non-resource exports.

A natural continuation of my training was the development of an Action Plan based on a detailed analysis of the grain and flour-milling sector in the Kostanay Region. The project aims to address key structural challenges related to insufficient traceability and the lack of standardized wheat storage practices at primary grain elevators. The initiative envisions adapting advanced Japanese approaches to quality inspection, introducing digital protocols for segregated grain storage before blending, and organizing training programs and farmers’ field schools to enhance the capacity of local producers. Such a comprehensive and research-based approach will significantly increase the value added of domestic agricultural products and strengthen the competitiveness of Kazakh grain in international markets.

The analytical methodologies and practical tools acquired through the JICA program are already being integrated into my current work on assessing the economic efficiency of public investments and subsidy programs. Successful implementation of the proposed Action Plan will not only help eliminate systemic bottlenecks in the supply chain but also contribute to national goals of increasing productivity and diversifying Kazakhstan’s economy. The international experience gained through this program opens new opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting the adoption of innovative standards for sustainable development within Kazakhstan’s agro-industrial sector.

The successful completion of this program also creates opportunities to strengthen institutional dialogue between the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and JICA. Promising areas for future cooperation include joint expert seminars on the application of JAS standards in Kazakhstan and internship opportunities for Kazakh specialists in the field of agrologistics.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Japan and JICA for providing the opportunity to participate in the KCCP program, as well as to the organizers and course experts for their professionalism, for creating an environment that enabled a deep understanding of the Japanese management model, and for their comprehensive support throughout the training program.

Aray Nyshanali

Chief Expert

Ministry of National Economy

Republic of Kazakhstan