Potato growing in Tajikistan, where over 90% of the territory is occupied by mountains, is associated with certain difficulties. However, agricultural producers have adapted to the climate and terrain by combining the working methods of their ancestors and advanced technologies. As a result, the sub-sector is developing steadily, and its success is facilitated by the competent agricultural policy of the authorities.
Towards new opportunities
Today, potatoes are cultivated in all regions of the Republic of Tajikistan, occupying very small areas on individual farms: from 0,1 to 0,5 hectares. With the change in the food culture of the local population, this tuber crop rightly began to be called the second bread. And in recent years, potato growing has become one of the most important sub-sectors of crop production.
“Since 2018, there has been an increase in crop production volumes,” says the head of the laboratory of genetics and plant breeding at the Institute of Botany, Physiology and Plant Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences. Sciences, Professor RAE Kurbonali Partoev. – But the growth is primarily due to the expansion of planting area. The extensive method of farming is ineffective, especially in hot climates and lack of irrigated land. Therefore, scientists and farmers will have to find new opportunities for intensifying agriculture in the near future.
The average crop yield over the past six years has varied between 21,8-22,3 t/ha, and the area under it has increased from 41 thousand to 57 thousand hectares. At this stage, over 6% of all irrigated lands in Tajikistan are occupied by potatoes. Every year the country produces between 1-1,1 million tons of products, of which about 130 thousand tons are seed material.
“The shortage of food potatoes is 15-18 thousand tons per year,” notes Deputy General Director of Bokhtar Sozanda LLC, representative of the Agribusiness Association for the Khatlon region, candidate of agricultural sciences. sciences Safarali Oripov. – For now, we are making up for the deficit through regular supplies from other countries, for example, Pakistan, Russia, Belarus. But it is necessary to develop our own production in order to guarantee the food security of our republic.
This specificity
Depending on the conditions in the regions, crop varieties of different ripening periods are grown. For example, in the Khatlon region - early potatoes, in the Gissar Valley and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region - mid-early, in the Tajikabad region - late.
“Among the most popular varieties are Picasso, Tajikistan, Big Rose, Red Scarlett, Gala, Cosmos,” says Safarali Oripov. – Farmers are equally in demand for varieties of Dutch and German selection and those bred by our scientists based on foreign ones. As well as varieties created in collaboration with breeders of the International Potato Center from Peru.
“I have been growing seed potatoes of the Rasht, Tajikistan, Faizabad varieties in the Rasht region of the republic for six years,” says the head of the farm Dzhumabek Abdulloev. – The total area of cultivated land is six hectares, and there are five more varieties of corn and three varieties of beans in production. When cultivating small plots, farmers often choose leguminous crops that enrich the soil with nitrogen to ensure crop rotation.
In zones with a temperate climate, including the Rasht Valley, Shahristan region and Kukhistoni Mastchokh (Mountain Mastcha), higher crop yields are observed. The advanced farmers working in these places collect up to 45-50 tons of tubers from each hectare.
“Several years ago, I grew potatoes in the Vanj region of the republic on an area of about four hectares,” recalls the former farmer, head of development programs at the Aga Khan Foundation. Imatbek Nikhmonov. – On my farm, preference was given to Tajik, Russian, European, Pakistani varieties, and the average crop yield ranged from 35 to 40 tons per hectare.
“Early potatoes, which we get in the south of the country,” explains Safarali Oripov, – planted in December and harvested in May. In August, replanting takes place using seedlings previously grown in greenhouses. This makes it possible to dig up the potatoes before the first frost. But in the foothills and mountainous regions, producers harvest only one crop of tubers
The greenhouse industry is actively developing in Tajikistan, with the direct participation of potato growers. The special film with which they cover their fields allows them to protect the seedlings from heavy morning dew and spring heavy rains. Often, producers keep plants under film until harvest, so digging of tubers begins 10-12 days earlier.
Donkeys, bulls, irrigation ditches
In the agricultural business of Central Asian countries, the share of manual labor is traditionally high. And the reason is not always the high cost of machines and units.
“Many farms in the republic are fully provided with all types of equipment from leading manufacturers,” he assures Safarali Oripov. – Thanks to the support of the state, the agricultural leasing system works very effectively. When planting, European-made machines are mainly used, and Russian-made ones when harvesting. In the mountains, where tiny areas are cultivated and where standard equipment cannot reach, small-scale mechanization saves the day. But often the crop is planted and dug by hand, and the cultivation of row spacing is carried out with the help of horses.
“All work except plowing,” confirms the farm manager Mulloidi Safarov, – we perform with the help of domestic animals: donkeys, bulls and horses. In mountainous areas it is not always possible to use mechanisms. But our methods are safe for the environment and allow us to preserve the lumpy structure of the soil.
“Just like 100 years ago, Tajik farmers massively practice manual labor,” adds Dzhumabek Abdulloev. – Cultivating a small field is not so difficult and time consuming. Although we would not refuse small-sized modern equipment adapted to our conditions.
“In the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, tractors are usually used for plowing, harrowing and inter-row cultivation,” explains Imatbek Nikhmonov. – And during planting and harvesting, special working bulls are used, as our ancestors once did.
Potatoes in Tajikistan are grown exclusively under irrigation. However, modern irrigation equipment is rarely installed on farms. This is done mainly by larger and richer manufacturers. As a rule, water flows to the fields by gravity, through a pre-dug network of canals - ditches. And if there are no bodies of water nearby, farmers drill wells and pump water from a depth of 60-80 meters.
Science and practice
In the republic, the areas allocated for planting new varieties of crops are growing every year. Working on their creation, employees of the Institute of Botany, Physiology and Plant Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan show decent results. Competitive zoned varieties Faizabad, Rasht, Tajikistan, Zarina, Ovchi, Shukrona, Nurinisso, Surkhob, AN-1, Muhabbat and others have already been introduced to the market.
“Our government has approved a list of seed companies that operate in close cooperation with scientists,” says Safarali Oripov.– Super elite and elite are grown in the fields of the Institute, then the material is transferred to seed farms in different regions, where it is propagated until the first reproduction.
The country's authorities provide seed growers with all possible support. Every year, seed potatoes are purchased from the budget and distributed through the Republican Ministry of Agriculture among specialized farms. And only at the end of the season, after harvesting, they repay the debt to the state with products, and use the rest of the harvest for sale and for their own needs.
“About 90% of seeds are grown in the mountainous zone of the republic,” says Kurbonali Partoev. – At an altitude of 1,8 to three thousand meters above sea level, diseases and pests that carry viral plant diseases are almost never found. For example, the Kuhistoni Mastchokh region meets all the conditions for the production of high-quality seed material.
Store or sell
The problem of storing crops is especially pressing in hot climates, but local potato growers find a way out of the situation with minimal costs.
“In the regions of the republic, where the largest areas are occupied by crops, the profits of producers are higher,” describes the situation Imatbek Nikhmonov. “This means they can spend money on building modern storage facilities, for example, by uniting in farmers’ associations.” And in mountainous areas they still use old grandfather’s warehouses, which can hold a maximum of 10-15 tons of products.
“My potato storage facility is located directly in the ground, at a depth of two meters, and can hold up to eight tons of potatoes,” he shares his experience Mulloidi Safarov. – Its construction did not require large investments, and it was possible to create optimal conditions for the preservation of tubers.
“I successfully store the harvested potatoes in the basement,” he says. Dzhumabek Abdulloev. “With our production volumes, huge warehouses are not required, and there is simply no point in spending money on their creation.
Potatoes are sold mainly with the help of intermediaries. Medium-sized and larger farms, if desired, sell part of the harvest to the end consumer or deliver it to retail outlets.
“Farmers don’t have time to sit at the counter,” says Safarali Oripov. “Resellers come to them, take potatoes from the field in bulk and sell them through their own channels for much more. On the one hand, manufacturers lose part of their profits, on the other hand, they get rid of the risks that accompany the process of storing products.
Intensification in action
With the support of the authorities of Tajikistan, a lot of work is being done in the republic to green agriculture. The legislative framework adopted at the highest level clearly defines its directions.
“We are gradually abandoning chemistry in all its manifestations,” says Safarali Oripov. – As a result, the scale of use of microbiological fertilizers in the country is growing. The share of chemical plant protection products used is decreasing. By minimizing the possibility of harmful consequences for people and nature, agricultural producers are moving away from tractor and aircraft cultivation of fields. The ultimate goal of such a policy is to obtain environmentally friendly and safe agricultural products.
“When growing potatoes, I try to use organic fertilizers first,” says Mulloidi Safarov. – I prepare special organic compost myself. And among mineral fertilizers, only nitroammophoska is used, and then in very small quantities.
This approach makes it possible to increase soil fertility and crop yields. When using organic matter, potatoes and vegetables ripen 8-10 days ahead of schedule, their taste, shelf life and transportability improve..
Truly serious achievements are yet to come. And Tajik potato growers will have to work hard to take the sub-sector to a new level.
“With an annual potato consumption rate of about 92 kilograms per person, the republic needs to produce more than a million tons of tubers per year,” he reflects Kurbonali Partoev, – Therefore, in the future it is planned to expand the area under cultivation to 60 thousand hectares and increase the average yield to 23-25 tons per hectare. To solve these problems, farmers need to concentrate on introducing innovative technologies and advanced farming techniques, interact with science and constantly work on the quality of their products.
Irina Berg