Saiga Crisis in Kazakhstan: Farmers Fight for Survival as Antelope Devastate Farms

Saiga Antelope Overpopulation Threatens Kazakhstan's Food Security: Farmers Sound Alarm Akmola, Kazakhstan – Farmers in the Akmola region of Kazakhstan are facing a crisis. For the past five years, they've battled a surge in the saiga antelope population, which is devastating their crops and pastures. Galymkhan Sakhanov, head of a local farm, recently addressed the Majilis committee, the lower house of Kazakhstan's parliament, to highlight the severity of the situation. "For five years, agricultural workers have faced this problem," Sakhanov stated, describing how the saigas are destroying hundreds of thousands of hectares of farmland. "The saigas are destroying crops, and farmers are left without a harvest from these fields, thus jeopardizing food security." Sakhanov described the immense effort farmers are making, using cars and motorcycles to try and drive the saigas away from their fields. He painted a picture of farmers working from dawn till dusk, facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge. The situation is causing significant financial losses, impacting farmers' ability to repay loans. The government is now facing pressure to find a solution to this growing problem, balancing the needs of farmers with the conservation of the saiga antelope population. Finding a sustainable solution will be crucial for the region's agricultural future.