Interfax-Kazakhstan reports that the Security Council, chaired by Kazakh President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is meeting in Astana.

"There is only one issue on the agenda: safety security of the republic," President Nazarbayev said when opening the meeting.

"Kazakhstan's rather important role in the global production of food is well known. However, we need to improve our internal food security and develop the agricultural sector as one of the areas of the innovation economy, increase the agriculture added value and boost its share in GDP and total exports," the president said.

According to President Nazarbayev, this is a very challenging goal. "This is the first time when we give first priority to the agricultural sector," he said and urged the meeting to discuss these issues and adopt a resolution.

Since 2003, the republic has spent over 500 billion tenge (KZT) to support and develop the agricultural sector. Today, Kazakhstan is the number one global grain producer with over 1,000 tons per capita, President Nazarbayev said.

Agricultural minister, Akylbek Kurishbayev, told the meeting that the agricultural industry nearly fully satisfied, in accordance with the established standards, the internal demand for the basic food products.

"With the exception of oil-producing crop the internal demand for which is only satisfied for 75 per cent, berries for 30 per cent, early vegetables four per cent, sugar beet six per cent," said Mr Kurishbayev. He also said that Kazakhstan was dependent on poultry imports, which accounted for 67 per cent of consumption, reports Interfax-Kazakhstan.