Initiative of Agriculture Ministry: Import of cattle not to be subject to VAT
The Ministry of Agriculture of Kyrgyzstan has submitted a draft resolution for public discussion, which states that the import of cattle will not be subject to VAT until December 31, 2023 in order to ensure food security.
As of the end of 2021, livestock and poultry reached 1,750 million heads in the country, of which 868,000 are cows, 627,000 sheep and goats, 29,500 pigs, 547,000 horses and 57,000 yaks.
During the first half of the year, economic entities of all categories produced 155,900 tons of meat in live weight, which is 2.7 percent more than for the same period last year.
Specialists of the Ministry of Agriculture note that the increase in meat production is due to the growth in the number of farm animals, except for sheep, goats and poultry.
According to the National Statistical Committee on the results of accounting of livestock and poultry, the number of cattle increased by 34,600 as of the end of 2021.
Most farmers cannot reportedly bring breeding animals from abroad. It’s too expensive. But it is possible to import marketable cows and heifers in terms of productive qualities that are two to three times higher than that of the locally bred cattle.
The Ministry of Agriculture proposes to exempt import of such animals from VAT.
