Photo: Alexey Novikov / Pexels
The KegenMyasProm meat processing plant has opened in Kegen District, Almaty Region. The project received 2.5 billion tenge in investment, and the plant employs around 50 local residents (kapital.kz). It will process locally sourced meat and produce meat products for the domestic market.
What happened
According to the regional administration, the plant can process 10 tonnes of meat a day and produce 20 types of semi-prepared meat products. Finished products are supplied to major retail chains and production facilities. The project aims to increase the volume of domestically produced goods on the domestic market.
Representatives of the regional and district authorities, industry specialists, plant employees and district residents attended the opening. The plant also arranged training for specialists.
What this means for local livestock farmers
One of the stated benefits of the facility is that farmers can fatten and sell livestock within their own district, without transporting animals over long distances. This benefit for local residents was highlighted at the opening. The development of processing in the district is seen as a way to use local raw materials more efficiently and strengthen food security.
Svetlana Kozubakova, director of KegenMyasProm LLP, said Kegen District was chosen for its natural conditions, which are well suited to livestock farming. She said animals there feed on grasses in summer pastures, which she credits for the flavour of the local meat.
How the plant’s launch was supported
Kozubakova said the plant had been fitted with modern equipment. It received government support in the form of a subsidy to purchase machinery.
“The new plant is fully fitted with modern equipment. The government also provided substantial support by allocating a subsidy for the purchase of machinery,” Svetlana Kozubakova said, in remarks translated from Kazakh.
What is planned nearby
The next announced step is to open a feedlot for 5 thousand head of livestock next to the plant, according to the director of KegenMyasProm. For now, this remains a company plan.
“In the future, we plan to open a feedlot for 5,000 head of livestock next to the production facility,” Kozubakova said, in remarks translated from Kazakh.
