Kazakhstan holds a crucial position in global food production. As Central Asia's largest grain producer and a key exporter—ranking as the sixth largest wheat producer in the world—its agricultural efficiency directly impacts global supply chains. However, the nation faces a significant challenge: an aging fleet of farm machinery.
The statistics are stark: nearly 90% of machinery currently in use in Kazakhstan is at the end of its lifecycle and must be replaced. Tractors in use for more than 10 years account for a massive 94% of the entire fleet, with harvesting combines in similar condition making up 77%. For many farmers, buying new equipment costs too much money, and they need a cheaper way to upgrade.
This is where the concept of smart, affordable retrofitting becomes the most practical and powerful solution. FJDynamics focuses on providing the technology to bridge this gap, allowing Kazakhstani farmers to achieve the precision of modern agriculture using the equipment they already own.
Kazakhstan's Vision for Smart Farming
Despite the challenge of infrastructure, Kazakhstan is aiming high. The country is committed to integrating advanced technologies like satellite monitoring, geoanalytics, autonomous robots, and drones to revolutionize farming practices.
These technologies are expected to increase crop yields by 10% to 15% and cut water consumption by up to 25%. This push for precision is vital for the country's main crops—wheat, barley, cotton, and others—as it seeks to sustain its position as a major global exporter. For these goals to be realized, the foundation—precise field application and guidance—must be established first.
Old Sprayer Upgrade, New Field Results
Recently, we completed a major upgrade in Kazakhstan, demonstrating how older machines can be rapidly transformed into high-precision farming tools at a lower cost. The project involved upgrading a farmer’s tractor and sprayer, which featured the ARAG valves already installed by the farmer.
The upgrade goal was to achieve accurate rate control and eliminate the waste associated with manual operation. Here is the breakdown of this upgrade:
Installing the FJD AT2 Auto Steer System
We began by installing the FJD AT2 autosteering system, connecting it directly to the sprayer's integrated ARAG components via an FJD cable. This system now manages steering with centimeter-level accuracy, but also enables smart control for the sprayer.
Integrating Rate Controller with FJD ATS-C
We removed the air valves and installed a Müller system on the farmer's Argentinean PLA self-propelled sprayer. Since the sprayer has integrated Italian ARAG valves, we used the FJD ATS-C Precision Sprayer Controller to control the action of ARAG valves for precision application rate control.
By connecting to the Italian ARAG proportional flow meter and electric valves (in this specific case, 7 sections across a 32-meter boom), the ATS-C allows the sprayer to maintain the programmed application rate perfectly, regardless of the tractor's speed changes. This eliminates the common issue of over- or under-application when the tractor is turning or slowing down.
Optimizing Nozzle Setup
To ensure the highest quality of application, the farmer also installed advanced Lechler IDTA spray nozzles. These twin-fan (dual-pattern) nozzles are optimized for high pressure, which is essential for ensuring the best coverage while actively combating resource loss due to wind and evaporation.
Testing Overlap Reduction on the Field
After installation, field testing confirmed the system’s effectiveness. Our ATS-C and AT2 autosteering worked together: as the AT2 autosteered the tractor across the field, the ATS-C automatically controlled the ARAG valves to shut off individual boom sections over areas already sprayed, and seamlessly turned them back on as the tractor entered new zones.
The farmer was highly impressed by this intelligent overlap control, recognizing it as a massive cost-saver. This immediate, significant reduction in resource waste left him completely satisfied, leading him to purchase several more ATS-C units for future use.
Improving Operator Visibility
The AT2 display provides the farmer with immediate, essential feedback and real-time operational data. On the monitor, the system shows critical information, such as the liquid remaining in the tank (e.g., 382 liters). It also lets the operator specify the number of nozzles for each section, ensuring highly accurate application calibration.
The Economic and Environmental Impact
As to the farmer, the true power of this affordable retrofitting is measured in the positive economic and environmental outcomes:Cost Efficiency
By eliminating overlaps in seeding, fertilizing, and spraying, the farmer drastically cut their expensive input costs. This is crucial in Kazakhstan, where farming input prices are rising. These savings in chemical use translate directly into hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars saved every season—a significant benefit for any farmer.
Yield Improvement
Our autosteering and spraying controller ensures perfect path following and complete coverage across the entire field. This effectively eliminates the old problems of missing spots or costly overlaps. Because every part of the field gets the exact right amount of seed or fertilizer, crops experience less stress and grow much more evenly. This high level of accuracy and uniformity is the main factor allowing farmers to achieve the best possible harvest from their land.
Farming Sustainability
This upgrade delivers more than just quick cash savings to the farmer; it provides significant, long-term environmental benefits for Kazakhstan's agriculture. By avoiding wasteful overlaps and applying resources exactly where needed, the farmer drastically cuts down on how much water and chemicals they use.
This smart use of resources directly helps Kazakhstan reach its important national goals of using less water and reducing the overall environmental impact of farming. Ultimately, this move to smart, precise farming protects local nature and keeps Kazakhstan's valuable farmlands healthy for many years to come.
Bridging the Technology Gap
For farmers in Kazakhstan, facing the twin pressures of aging equipment and the need for higher yields, the path forward must be accessible. FJDynamics provides that path with cost-effective autosteering and implement control solutions, giving farmers a modular, affordable, and high-precision alternative to total fleet replacement.
By upgrading existing machinery, farmers can immediately join the smart agriculture movement, secure their operational future, and contribute directly to the economic and environmental health of Central Asia's most important agricultural region.