The main unit for the production of potatoes and vegetables of the Russian agricultural holding AFG National is located in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.
The Nizhny Novgorod farms that are part of the holding (LLC Agrosfera, LLC Agropromresurs, LLC PK NKS) grow potatoes on an area of more than 1500 ha and achieve record results.
About agricultural holding
Agroholding AFG National was established in February 2013 as a result of the merger of the agro-industrial holding AF-Group (specializing in rice cultivation and processing) and the Angstrem Group of Companies (distributor of packaged cereals). In 2015, the holding began implementing a project for the production of table and seed potatoes and open ground vegetables at sites located in the Nizhny Novgorod and Novgorod regions.
Now the agricultural holding grows potatoes and vegetables in three regions: Nizhny Novgorod, Novgorod and Rostov regions.
A region with a favorable climate and good investment conditions
The Nizhny Novgorod region belongs to the territories with the most suitable weather conditions for growing potatoes and vegetables. In addition, as representatives of the agricultural holding company note, a favorable investment climate has developed here.
Today, the Nizhny Novgorod region is the main vegetable growing region of AFG National, annually producing more than 80 thousand tons of potatoes and open ground vegetables (in general, all departments collect about 120 thousand tons of products).
Agricultural holding enterprises use subsidies allocated by federal and regional authorities for the provision of unrelated support, production of seed potatoes and the purchase of elite seeds. In addition, the region reimburses 50% of the cost of building wells for organizing irrigation. Since last year, a new measure of support for farmers has also been applied in the region - compensation for 50% of the cost of putting fallow lands into agricultural circulation. In recent years, AFG National in the Nizhny Novgorod Region additionally introduced about 1500 hectares of agricultural land.
Table, seed and chips potatoes
In the Nizhny Novgorod farms of the agricultural holding, 1100 ha were allocated for growing potato, and seed - up to 450 ha. The areas are stable, in the near future the company does not plan to increase them.
In 2019, 60 thousand tons of ware potatoes, about 14 thousand tons of seed, 21,3 thousand tons of table carrots were obtained.
It is worth noting that over the past two years, the agricultural holding increased the volume of potato production in the Nizhny Novgorod region by 44,3%. This was mainly due to the increase in productivity - from 500 to 600 kg / ha.
Seed potatoes of the first reproduction are grown for the company's own needs, the elite and superelite are produced for sale, including through partnership programs with seed originators.
In 2020, potato chips were also planted in the region (so far in a small experimental plot of 20 hectares).
In addition to vegetables and potatoes, Nizhny Novgorod agricultural holding enterprises grow grain and leguminous crops, which allows for a four-field crop rotation.
Key varieties
The agricultural holding produces potatoes for cooking, frying and mashed potatoes (with a higher starch content in tubers).
The company aims to realize the maximum volume of products through retail chains, therefore, when selecting varieties, much attention is paid to the external characteristics of the product. The tubers should be large, even, have a shallow eye pattern, be washable and resistant to mechanical damage, and tolerate long-term storage and transportation.
At the moment, the main varieties of the line are Gala and Colomba, also well established in the Gioconda and Madeira region.
Product sales
The agricultural holding is focused on the production of high-quality marketable potatoes and carrots and their sale in washed packaged form under their own brands and STM.
Customers of chain stores are well aware of two trademarks of the company: Natural Selection (washed potatoes of the premium segment) and Vegetable League (washed carrots in a bag). The Vegetable League brand also produces carrots, beets and onions grown in the fields in the Nizhny Novgorod and Rostov Regions.
Packing is carried out in accordance with the orders of distribution networks and distributors.
Agricultural holding enterprises also supply raw materials for processing to food industry enterprises. This product category (HCT) is not selected by caliber, it may contain tubers of an irregular shape and have minor mechanical damage, which is unacceptable when sold in retail chains, but does not affect quality.
Infrastructure
The AFG National Land Bank in the Nizhny Novgorod Region exceeds 16 thousand ha, of which more than 4 thousand ha are equipped with irrigation. Today, the agricultural holding is building a new well, after putting it into operation, the area of irrigated land will expand by another 300 hectares. AFG National pays great attention to the organization of high-quality storage of products. In the Nizhny Novgorod region there is a high-tech potato storage with a capacity of 16,4 thousand tons (Lukoyanovsky district), a storage for seed potatoes with a capacity of 9 thousand tons (Dalnekonstantinovsky district), and a vegetable store for 18,5 thousand tons of carrots (Shatkovsky district). In addition, the agricultural holding enterprises have arch storage facilities with a total capacity of 27 thousand tons (terminal for 10 thousand tons in Svetlogorsk, 9 thousand tons in the village of Sliznevo, Arzamas district, and 8 thousand tons in the village of Vyyezdnoe Arzamas region).
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