Grain Storage System: Experience of Kazakhstan and Russia

Objective – to identify current trends in the functioning of the grain storage system in Kazakhstan and Russia. For theoretical understanding and generalization of data, abstract-logical, interpretation, and synthesis methods were used. When considering the constituent elements and interrelationships in the structure of grain resource preservation, system, comparative, and economic-statistical analysis, dynamic comparisons, grouping, and summation of information were applied. Results – the study of the technical condition of the grain storage infrastructure in these countries reveals a high level of physical wear and obsolescence of equipment at elevators and grain receiving enterprises. In a number of regions, there remains a shortage of capacities necessary for timely reception, primary processing, and normative conservation of incoming grain. These constraints increase quantitative losses, impair the quality parameters of grain products, and reduce the operational and economic efficiency of the facilities. The paper also systematizes the leading grain-producing regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and shows regional patterns of grain farming development in terms of the number of facilities, one-time storage capacity, and actual workload level. The obtained results make it possible to assess the territorial provision with the material and technical base, identify the most problematic areas, and determine reserves for further building up the sector’s modernization potential. Conclusions – summarizing the results made it possible to establish the degree of territorial conformity of existing technical storage capacities with the produced volumes of grain, discover zonal disparities, unused assets, and key infrastructural constraints. Prospective directions for updating the grain warehousing module were substantiated, focused on increasing its throughput, technological reliability, and adaptability to changes in the scale of grain production.

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