Sustainable development of crop production with elements of precision agriculture in Northern Kazakhstan

The Agricultural Experimental Station «Zarechnoye» LLP (AES «Zarechnoye» LLP, Kostanay region, Kazakhstan) has always been the initiator of introduction and dissemination of advanced innovative technologies; in this regard, the agriculture has been identified as the basis for the introduction of digitalization elements, i.e. precision agriculture. The use of elements of the precision agriculture system by the AES «Zarechnoye» LLP, the use of modern technology equipped with an automatic driving system, a differential fertilizer application system and plant protection products ensured a guaranteed yield with high technological indicators in an extremely arid year. The obtained yield level of grain crops exceeded the average regional level by 79.7%. An economic model for the introduction of precision agriculture elements for the farm «Agrofirma Karkyn» LLP with medium technical equipment, indicating the costs of applying the developed technologies per 1 ha, was built. The analysis of economic return was carried out as a result of increased productivity with indicating the payback period. The production and economic indicators of the surveyed farm in the Kostanay region, obtained as a result of constructing financial and economic models taking into account the introduction of precision agriculture elements, are presented. Based on the constructed financial and economic models, the calculations showed that the introduction of precision agriculture elements will reduce production costs for wheat growing to 1.6 thousand tenge per 1 ha of cultivated area, or 4% of all production costs. The payback period for simulated improvements in the implementation of precision agriculture elements for the farm, while maintaining the current processing area, will be 4.4 years. The data obtained during the study can be used by agricultural producers to develop measures to increase productivity and reduce the cost of production, as well as by government agencies to improve measures of state support and regulation in the field of agriculture, aimed at digitalization, the introduction of precision agriculture elements and increasing the competitiveness of agricultural production.