Potato producers in Kyrgyzstan have great potential that they have yet to realize. Centuries-old farming traditions, greater involvement of the population in agricultural production, interest in obtaining a stable income - all this contributes to the development of potato growing in the republic.
High goals
Potatoes are undoubtedly considered the most profitable crop for cultivation in the conditions of the Kyrgyz Republic (KR). Every year, more than 74 million tons of tubers are grown in the country on an area of 1,25 thousand hectares. Of this, 45% remains for domestic consumption, 20-25% is used for seeds and the same amount is exported, and the remaining 4-5% is used for fodder.
“Potatoes are one of the key crops that ensure the achievement of the goals in the field of sustainable development of the republic,” says the chairman of the cluster association “Potatoes of the Kyrgyz Republic”, founder and founder of the AgroWay Holding. Kayyrkul Kazylaeva. – These goals primarily include the elimination of poverty and hunger, job creation, and economic growth.
The total area under potatoes from 2018 to 2022 decreased by 14,7%, production volume decreased, but yield increased by 2,2%. According to official data from the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, its average ranges from 16,8 to 17,2 t/ha. However, according to information from farmers in the Issyk-Kul and Chui regions, the crop yield ranges from 30 to 55 t/ha. And in the Jalal-Abad, Osh and Batken regions, farmers collect from 20 to 35 tons per hectare.
Statistics show that the largest amount of potatoes in the republic is grown in the Issyk-Kul region - 35%, Talas and Osh account for 15% and 16%, Chui and Jalal Abad - 10% and 13%, Naryn and Batken region - 8% and 3% respectively.
It's a matter of itself
Due to the natural and climatic conditions of Kyrgyzstan, many farmers focus on growing seed material. And commercial products are often sold as a “by-product” of production.
“We have been engaged in this crop since the spring of 2018,” says the director of Seed Potato LLC. Kurmanbek Otorov, – and this season they cultivated an area of 24 hectares. In a good year, we usually dig 20-25 tons of tubers per hectare. But if frosts occur in the summer, the yield can drop to 16-17 tons. Over five years, many potato growers in Kyrgyzstan and neighboring republics have become our regular customers. Larger tubers that are not suitable for planting are sold to the population for food purposes. We have a modern potato storage facility designed for two thousand tons in bulk and 1,5 thousand tons in bags. It was built with funds from the founder of the enterprise, the Russian company Volovskaya Tekhnika LLC. The warehouse is filled at the beginning of October, then commercial potatoes are sold throughout the winter, mainly on the wholesale market. Seed material is sold before the start of the planting campaign in mid-May.
“My farm has been working with elite potato varieties since 2017,” says the individual entrepreneur. Omar Sheshanlo. – Seed production is carried out on an area of 23 hectares. The yield is about 30-35 tons per hectare, but by conducting experiments with individual varieties, I doubled this figure. Only the first and second reproductions are sent for sale, and among the buyers are vegetable growers from the entire Central Asian region. One of the traditions preserved in my native Chui Valley involves the use of large tubers for planting crops. Manufacturers cut such potatoes into several parts, as our ancestors did 150 years ago, who said: “If you plant a big potato, it will grow big.” Therefore, I try to grow seeds of fraction 6+. The vegetable storage facility on the farm was built back in Soviet times, but it solves its task well. Here, before the start of the new season, there are usually about 500-600 tons of seed material for our own needs.
Although potato processing in the Central Asian region is generally poorly developed, there are farms that specialize in this area.
“Our company appeared in 1997 as a small workshop for the production of chips, which was opened by the spouses Joseph and Nina Menhus,” explains the executive director of the Kirby farm. Alexander Kolodyazhny. – Their meeting a few years later with the owner of the company Agrarfrost, engaged in potato processing in Germany, turned out to be fateful. Reinold Stover decided to support his beginning colleagues by providing technological equipment for cultivating potatoes and seeds of the required variety. The company's chief agronomist, Jürgen Bruer, was sent to the farm and taught us how to grow potato chips. And today our company is one of the leading ones among those specializing in the production and processing of potatoes in the republic. From an area of 150 hectares we obtain raw materials for our own factory that produces chips and straws. Another 50 are allocated for seed production. The average crop yield exceeds 40 tons per hectare. And our warehouse capacity allows us to store agricultural products without loss of quality until the next harvest.
Untapped potential
In the foothill regions of the republic, located at an altitude of 1,5-3,2 thousand meters above sea level, the most favorable conditions for seed potatoes are found. Even in the hot summer, the weather remains cool here and there are no insects that carry viral diseases.
“Unfortunately, today in Kyrgyzstan there is no breeding work, there is not a single in vitro laboratory,” notes Kayyrkul Kazylaeva. – Specialized farms, which can be counted on one hand, buy elite material in Europe, multiply it and sell it to table potato producers. They offer seeds of early, mid-early and late varieties for the domestic market and export products.
- Last year, about a thousand tons of elite were imported into the country, says Alexander Kolodyazhny. – Such deliveries are carried out regularly, but I think we need our own institute of primary seed production. This is a highly competitive environment and it will be difficult to compete with products already on the market. But without domestic selection and productive local varieties, we will not become truly successful.
“We buy elite seed material in the Netherlands,” he shares his experience Kurmanbek Otorov, – and in Russia, in the Krasnodar region. Then we propagate in our fields until the first and second reproductions. Realizing the great responsibility we have, we comply with all technological processes. Inspectors often visit the farm and conduct testing and certification of products. We also undertake to popularize the use of quality seeds and conduct training events for farmers.
The path to mechanization
Central Asia is one of the regions where high profits in agriculture cannot be achieved without additional irrigation of fields. Especially when it comes to moisture-loving crops.
“In our zone, practically nothing grows without watering,” notes Alexander Kolodyazhny. – It is desirable that irrigation be mechanized: sprinkling or drip. We successfully used both systems, but at the moment we abandoned the “drop”. It is too labor-intensive and costly a method under the current conditions. In recent years, we have been using wide-spread center pivot irrigation machines.
“Working in a hot climate has its own characteristics,” confirms Kurmanbek Otorov. – We carry out irrigation using a field coil, pumping water into the irrigation system from reservoirs located nearby. At the same time, the manual method, using ditches, is still used. Not all farms, especially small ones, can afford irrigation equipment. So this is a forced tribute to tradition.
“I have my own seed production scheme,” explains Omar Sheshanlo, – which requires mandatory watering and certain agricultural practices. I am a professional agronomist and practice non-standard approaches to growing potatoes. So, when organizing irrigation, I am constantly looking for optimal ways to help increase productivity.
The topic of agricultural mechanization in Kyrgyzstan, where manual labor is still widespread, remains one of the most pressing. Plant growers purchase the necessary machines and units, but taking into account their financial capabilities.
“The equipment for cultivating potatoes on the farm is mainly Russian,” says Kurmanbek Otorov. – It is affordable and meets all our requirements. There are also two Belarusian tractors and Turkish units: a tillage cutter and a sprayer.
“Equipment, field and warehouse equipment for potato production on our farm are represented by solutions from leading Western companies,” says Alexander Kolodyazhny. – We don’t see any other options in terms of efficiency and reliability on the world market.
“We have a Russian-made potato planter and potato digger,” notes Omar Sheshanlo, – but the tubers are collected from the ground by hand. On-site workers divide them into varieties and fractions in order to sell the products directly from the field. This is much more profitable than taking the harvest to a warehouse, sorting it there and storing it until spring. Of course, there is a desire to purchase more modern equipment, but this requires serious investment.
Through overcoming
“For the development of the sub-industry in the republic, cooperation between farmers is necessary,” believes Alexander Kolodyazhny. – First of all, this is due to the peculiarities of land use. As a result of the reform, about a million hectares of arable land were divided into shares. The bulk of the land has gone into private hands in the form of small patches, and sometimes up to 100 tiny farms operate on 200 hectares. How, then, to solve the issues of building infrastructure, organizing irrigation, and many others? Only by unification.
“Among the limiting factors are difficulties with implementation,” says Omar Sheshanlo. – Representatives of foreign businesses have visited our farm more than once and noted the high quality of the seeds grown here. We strive to work in such a way as to interest as many farmers as possible from different countries. But at this stage we lack the tools for full-scale product promotion.
“There are still many acute problems in potato growing,” states Kayyrkul Kazylaeva. – To solve them, we actively interact with the authorities and attract the most authoritative market experts. For example, we cooperate with the AgroWay Holding, which is engaged in potato growing and provides consulting services in the agricultural sector.
Cluster directs
The cluster association “Potato KR” appeared in 2022 on the initiative of local agricultural companies, cooperatives and large farmers. “The potato cluster was created to ensure the food security of the republic,” notes Kaiyrkul Kazylaeva, – increasing competitiveness by increasing yields, improving the quality of agricultural products, reducing costs for farmers by introducing the best global practices. The association sees its task as lobbying and protecting the interests of its members in the legislative, tax and market spheres.
The cluster unites more than 200 participants throughout the country, including producers of commercial products and seed material. Every year they produce up to 100 thousand tons of table potatoes and another five thousand tons of seeds of the first and second reproductions.
“We maintain constant contact with the cluster management,” says Alexander Kolodyazhny.– The professionalism of these people and the desire for positive changes inspire respect. They managed to organize and unite farmers, accustomed to isolation, to achieve the common good.
“The republic has enormous opportunities in the agricultural sector,” I am convinced Kayyrkul Kazylaeva. – We can completely cover our needs for ware potatoes and seeds (for now the varieties are of foreign selection). Ensure their export to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Russia and other countries. There is a lot of work to be done, but this does not scare us.
“Year after year we work to improve production efficiency and increase crop yields,” he assures Kurmanbek Otorov. – I know that we have excellent prospects for the future. There are large markets around us that need our products, and we are ready to work hard to conquer them.
Irina Berg