d.e.s., professor Alenova K.T
The doctoral candidate of PhD, ZH.S. Bulkhairova
Management chair, Kazakh Agro Technical
University of S.Seifullin, Kazakhstan
HUMAN CAPITAL IN THE
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF KAZAKHSTAN'S ECONOMY
Improving the
competitiveness agriculture in modern conditions is particularly important for
Kazakhstan and essential because the agrarian sector has traditionally been the
main industry not only ensure food security in the country and the economic
development sustainability, but one of the most important sources of growth in
human resources for all sectors in the economy: the rural population proportion
in the country is 45% [1]. So natural that the "Strategy"
Kazakhstan-2050 ", the President of the country N.A. Nazarbayev stresses:
«... We must focus on addressing social imbalances in the regions development.
Now the weak economic the regions development leads to increased unemployment.
Is the polarization of the population incomes... The Government should have in
the first half of the year 2013 to identify and process the list of necessary
and promising projects in the regions "[2].
With today's economic
development trends reflect a transformation the man role who is not only a goal
of social production, but also an essential resource for socio-economic
progress. A person becomes a significant factor and driving force behind the
production because it has unique abilities not only played, but also add a new
service stationcost due to their physical and intellectual potential. Turning
to the technologically experience in advanced countries, the transition to a
knowledge economy is based primarily on the human ability to create
innovations, which preserves the traditional resources and generating enormous
revenues. In fact, competition in the world economy turns into a competition of
new knowledge, a carrier which is man. This understanding of its role is
growing throughout the world and there has been a gradual reversal of policy
towards the world strengthen and increase human potential through increased
investment in its quality.
Thus, human capital is
the core, the main axis around which revolve most other business transformation
[3]. Human capital is like any other factor of production which requiring
systematic investment, but, unlike other resources able to create added value.
While the human capital definitions serves as a goal the economy development,
and as the primary productive resource without which it is impossible for any
suitable activities in general.
The researchers also
noted that a distinction should be drawn between such concepts as "human
capital" and "human resources". Human resources is directly
people, educated and uneducated, that skilled and unskilled labour. Human
capital is a concept more capacious, because apart from labour resources
accumulated investment (taking into account their depreciation) in education,
science, health, safety, the life quality, the intellectual work tools and in
the environment for the effective functioning of the human capital.
At the present stage of
human capital development in agrarian sector can be described as follows:
-rural population growth
occurred at 421.73 thous. people in 2013 compared with 2008, while the total
population of Kazakhstan during the same period increased by 1589.29 thousand.
man;
-increased employment of the rural population in Kazakhstan at 100.30 mill. people in 2013 compared to 2008, but at the same time a decline in employment in agriculture, forestry and fisheries at 296.14 thous. man. These data suggest that the rural population employed traditional activities, preferring other areas: trade, transport services, travel to the cities to find work. [4]
The employment reduction
in the agricultural sector is affected not only by the seasonality of
agricultural work and working conditions, but the unpredictable weather
conditions determining productivity and ultimately the profitability of the
farm and its ability to expand the staff of new employees.
Several other aspects of
human capital development in the agriculture in our country:
-increase in the
proportion of workers in agriculture (hunting and forestry) at 18.40 thous.
man. This evolution reflects the trend of increasing employment in the
agricultural sector, which is the most rational solution in terms of the agricultural
works seasonality.
-reduction of the people
employed in farms at 47.00 thous. people in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
-reduction of
self-employed in agriculture, forestry and fisheries at 281.20 thous. man;
-reduce the number of the unemployed population in agriculture, forestry and fisheries at 39.00 thous. man. [4]
These changes are due to
the influence of factors such as the reduction in the number of farming
households whose income is unstable and dependent on climatic conditions, as
well as their financial insolvency in upgrading technologies and agricultural
machinery. Ultimately, these reasons lead to the exodus of entrepreneurs and
the workforce in general, from agriculture to other sectors in the economy
where you can get a more stable income. In fact, we can say that the process of
agricultural units consolidation, enabling them, on the basis of the concentration
and centralization capital, to demonstrate greater efficiency and
competitiveness. Hence the increase in the number of employees in the
agricultural sector in the country.
The most significant
indicator, which characterize the economic foundations of human capital
development in agriculture, remains based on wages Statistics Agency in
Kazakhstan [4], you can see that there has been an increase of the average
nominal monthly salary in agriculture over the past three years, with 44986 tenge
in 2011 to 2013 in year 58304 - that is, an absolute increase on 13318 tenge. However,
when compared with that in other sectors in the economy, the agricultural
sector remains the most poorly paid sector, which consequently leads to
increased outflow of population from villages and human capital flow in other
sectors -the construction, wholesale and retail trade, transportation, etc.
Therefore, Kazakhstan
has a chance to take its unique food niche in the world market, the intensive
agriculture sector by type expanded reproduction at the expense development of
low-cost and resource-saving technologies, the acquisition of modern
technology, improve the soil fertility. In turn, the modernization in the
agricultural sector increases the degree of difficulty and expertise in
agricultural organizations, thereby significantly increasing quality
requirements, human capital. In fact, with the transition to new technologies
and upgrade the technical equipment of agricultural production, on the one
hand, will decrease the proportion of low-skilled heavy labour, on the other
hand, will increase the demand for versatile developed expertise.
In
order to ensure a high level of human capital in the agricultural sector, in
our view, it is necessary to develop and implement a comprehensive programme
covering all its constituent elements: economic, cultural, ethical, social,
educational, and other capabilities. Priority must be economic resource, with
productivity agricultural producers through increased motivation and incentives
(wages, taxes and social benefits), including farmers and entrepreneurs.
Another important aspect of the programme should be a forecast plan for the
rural areas development in all regions in the country, taking into account
their natural potential and new economic realities-Kazakhstan accession to the
Eurasian Union, and in the future-the World Trade Organization. Be complemented
by measures to improve the education quality of specialists for the
agricultural sector.
List of references
1.
http://www.24.kz/ru/news/social/item/11563-v-kaz-snizilas-chislennost-selsk-naseleniya
2. Message from the
President of Kazakhstan- the nation leader of N. A. Nazarbayev. "Strategy
Kazakhstan-2050," the new policy of the State//Dec 20th
3. Sagadiev K.A. Human
capital and growth factors in Kazakhstan//International Conference "Human
capital in Kazakhstan: current status and future growth prospects," the
Astana, 2013
4. Statistical bulletin
of the Statistics Agency in Kazakhstan: economic activity of the population of
Kazakhstan, Astana, 2014, 189 p.