KOKSHETAU. August 19. KAZINFORM /Yernur Akanbai/ Development of agriculture, processing of agricultural products is the main challenge for Kazakhstan to date. Head of the State Nursultan Nazarbayev has said it at a conference in Kokshetau devoted to the development of food-belt around Astana. "Huge work has been done in agriculture over the independence years", the President said. "Rural areas of the country fell to desolation after the USSR collapse. As soon as it became possible we started granting donations in this sector, and they are big enough now", N. Nazarbayev noted. KZT 1.5 bln were allotted for supporting villages and agriculture over three years announced "Years of aul" (village). The same sum of money was allocated for supporting agro-industrial complex in 2009. "Manufacture of good agricultural products, increasing the share of agriculture in the country's economy should become a priority task for us. Much work should be carried out in order to provide the sector's development", the Head of the State stressed. The conference was attended by Head of the Presidential Administration Aslan Mussin, Minister of Agriculture Akhylbek Kurishbayev, Akim of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov, Akim of Akmola oblast Albert Rau, Akim of Karaganda oblast Nurlan Nigmatullin and Chairman of KazAgro holding Asylzhan Mamytbekov.