Institutional and behavioral factors strengthening Kazakhstan’s organic livestock sector

The organic agricultural system in Kazakhstan has been strengthening its position since the early 2000s and is regarded as a promising direction for the sustainable transformation of the agrarian sector.

The objective – is to identify the factors determining the readiness and practical engagement of beef cattle farmers in transitioning to organic production.

Methods – the study of works by domestic and foreign scholars, the use of data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and reports of the Department of Agriculture of the West Kazakhstan Region were employed to identify trends in the development of environmentally sustainable livestock farming. The methodological framework was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and econometric modeling, including structural equation modeling, which were applied to validate the TPB model, assess the direct and indirect effects of behavioral strategies focused on the organic livestock sector, and analyze the adoption of organic farming practices.

Results – the study demonstrated that motivational attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control have a positive influence on farmers’ intention to engage in organic agricultural production. Recommendations were developed to reduce certification barriers, optimize advisory services, provide financial support during the transition period, and stimulate demand for organic products.

Conclusions – encouraging agricultural producers to manufacture organically certified food products is the dominant factor that drives actual behavioral change during the transition process and has a stronger influence than preparedness alone. Farm size (livestock numbers and land area) is positively correlated with the likelihood of conversion to organic production. Effective and targeted government measures, including certification subsidies, advisory services, and the expansion of the domestic market, are of decisive importance for unlocking the considerable potential of the republic’s organic livestock sector. In the future, consumer demand for natural livestock products is expected to increase. 

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