§ 29. Geography of the economy of the southern kazakhstan

In the Southern Kazakhstan there are chromic deposits, phosphorite mines, oil, lead and zinc ores. Economic region is specialized on extracting and processing­, chemical, heavy, light, the food-processing industry, the industry of building materials, nonferrous metallurgy and agriculture. Specialisation of agricultural branches­: irrigated agriculture, wine growing, cultivation of sheep astrakhan breeds.

The Southern Kazakhstan is the main irrigated agricultural ­ region of the country. Here the cotton, a sugar ­ beet, yellow tobacco, the rice are grown up­, valuable technical and grain crops, are available vineyards. Northern and western slopes of Zhongar Alatau, northern slopes ­ of Ile Alatau and the Kirghiz ridge are favorable for agriculture­.

The industry. On the basis of deposits of polymetallic ­ ores (Karatau and Zhongar Alatau) in economic region ­ Ashchysai polymetallic industrial complex, lead-zinc industrial complex in Tekeli and Shymkent lead factory are constructed.

The great value for national economy has the Karatau ore-chemical industrial complex based on Karatau phosphorites­. The large enterprises of the phosphoric industry - "Karatau­", "Himprom", "Phosphorus", "Kazfosfat" (Taraz), Taraz superphosphate factory which make the high-quality fertilizers containing to 70 % of nutrients.

Between industrial branches complex ­ use of raw materials is adjusted­. For example, a waste of phosphoric manufacture ­ - slags - is used in cement manufacture, phosphorus ­ - in ferrous metallurgy.

From three oil refining factories operating in republic one is in the south - Shymkent factory of oil synthesis (it is constructed in 1969). The raw materials receive factory from the Western-Siberian area, 10 % of oil - from the Kumkol deposit­. Oil refining products are gasoline А-76, А-72, diesel fuel, oven fuel, etc.

In connection with transition to market relations and formation ­ of new kinds of the property the Shymkent factory of petrosynthesis is transformed to joint-stock company.

Machine-building and metal-working industry ­ in the Southern Kazakhstan develop since 1950. The basic branches are electrotechnical, equipment - machine-tool constructing the ­ manufactures located in Almaty, Shymkent, Taraz, Kentau (factories "Pistons", "Electrodevice­" in Almaty, factory "Electrodevice" in Shymkent). In machine engineering industry the ­ imported ­ raw materials are used basically­.

In economic region the additional branch of an economy ­ - manufacture of building materials is developed­. On the basis of local raw materials Shymkent and Saztobe cement factories work.

In Shymkent the chemical-pharmaceutical factory operates.

Light industry. The Southern Kazakhstan wins first place in republic on total amount of production of light industry­. On an economic region share it is necessary over 70 % of cotton in republic cotton, woollen and fur ­ products. To light industry developments promote cotton planting, astrakhan sheep breeding and thin fleece sheep breeding. The South Kazakhstan area is unique region in republic ­ on cotton cultivation.

The ­ factory and factory concern the large enterprises of light industry ­ on cotton cleaning factories and cotton industrial complexes in Almaty and Shymkent, tanning-shoe industrial complex in Taraz­, stocking and tailoring of suits in Shymkent, shoe factory in Kyzylorda­­.

The food-processing industry. To the Southern Kazakhstan it is necessary to 50 % of production of the food-processing industry made in republic­. The largest enterprises of the food-processing industry are meat processing, tobacco, fruit-and-vegetable industrial complexes ­ in Almaty, Taraz and Taldykorgan sugar factories­, industrial complex "Araltuz", Kyzylorda rice cleaning factory­, Balkhash, Aral and Alakol fish processing enterprises. According to privatisation policy of the state many enterprises of industrial branches are transformed ­ to new kinds of the property. As an example of it serves Almaty winemaking factory which has become by joint-stock company ­"Bakhus".

Agriculture. In the Southern Kazakhstan there are considerable ­ ground resources: arable lands, pastures, meadows and haymakings­. On economic region it is necessary over 70 % of irrigated agricultural grounds of republic. A region environment is favorable for development of the agriculture based on irrigated agriculture and pastures.

Special development in the Southern Kazakhstan has received plant growing ­ - more profitable in comparison with animal industries. The great influence ­ on plant growing development renders economic-geographical position area. The main specialised direction of agriculture is cultivation of the commercial crops ­ used as raw materials for food and light industry­. The cotton ­ and sugar beet concern the major commercial crops­. Cotton crops are in valleys of the rivers Keles and Arys. Crops of the sugar beet are placed in valleys Asy, Talas, Shu, Karatal and on the irrigated earths with feet of mountains of Ile and Zhongar Alatau.

On the irrigated earths in the mouth Syrdariya and Ile rice, in vicinities of Almaty - tobacco are grown up­. Tobacco is also grown up in the South Kazakhstan and Zhambyl areas. In the Southern Kazakhstan ­ wine growing and melon growing are developed also.

With a view of development of irrigation agriculture are constructed Dosan-Karabas, Shauldir, Talas-Asy, Kordai and Karatal irrigating systems, Shu and Kyzylorda reservoirs, channel Arys - Turkestan, the Bogen water basin.

Now according to a privatisation policy ­ many agricultural enterprises are transformed to private kinds of the property.

From animal industries branches sheep breeding and camelbreeding are developed.

On sheep breeding, especially astrakhan breeding Zhambyl, South Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda areas specialise. These areas on a livestock of sheep, goats and wool preparation are leaders in republic.

Horned cattle (breed of a meat-and-milk direction) in Southern Kazakhstan are pastured on slopes of mountains.

All areas of economic region are engaged in horse breeding. Special horse plants plant valuable breeds of horses. One of them, Kazakh is deduced on horse plants "Kulandy" Kyzylorda area and "Basshi" of Almaty area. On horse plants "Degeres", "Algabas", "Kyzyl agash" (Almaty area) and "Kulan" (Zhambyl area) plant valuable breed kushum horses.

Camel breeding is engaged in deserted areas of the South Kazakhstan ­ area.

In vicinities of big cities the poultry-farming and pig-breeding enterprises which provide with the foodstuffs ­ urban population are concentrated­.

Transport. In economy of the Southern Kazakhstan the huge role is played by a railway transportation. The largest trunk-railways ­ of Almaty - Urumchi, Orenburg - Tashkent, Shymkent - Almaty provide intrarepublican and international ­ messages.

Through economic region territory the most extended passes ­ in republic the asphalted highway of Almaty-Bishkek ­ - Taraz - Shymkent - Tashkent. ­ Highways of Almaty - Zharkent-Taldykorgan - Tekeli, Almaty - Shelek - Narynkol are important in realisation of republican ­ transport communications.

The huge role in formation local and international contacts is played by air transport. Through Almaty airlines ­ between the countries of Europe and Asia constant air communications of the international value are carried out.

With development in the country oil-extracting and petroleum-refining industry ­ value of pipeline transport raises. On territory of the Southern Kazakhstan passes a gas pipeline ­ of Mubarak - Tashkent - Taraz - Bishkek - Almaty, on Shymkent ­ and Pavlodar oil refining factories will stretch the ­ oil pipeline Omsk - Pavlodar - Shymkent.

Part Ш

KAZAKHSTAN IN THE MODERN WORLD