The article discusses the features of the development of agriculture in the Kazakh steppe depending on the natural and climatic conditions based on the works of Russian travelers. By analyzing these studies, the main foci of agriculture in Kazakhstan and the trends in its development in the Semirechye region are determined. Analysis of the works of travelers as sources allows us to conclude that the agricultural sector of the Semirechensk region was divided into special species. The conclusion about the development of agriculture in the XVIII-XIX centuries. as a secondary economy after nomadic cattle breeding and its development, taking into account the regional characteristics of the Kazakh steppe.