The exhibitors at the horticultural trade show in Almaty, Kazakhstan, believe in the potential of the Kazakhstan market but also see that it’s not happening at full pace yet. “We’re planting seeds to see them grow soon,” said Olga Danilova with Hortilux.
Last week the trade show Greenhouses, Vegetable Growing, Horticulture, Irrigation, and Flowers. Fazenda. took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan. With over 120 companies present, it’s clear exhibitors see the potential in the market. The country offers good weather, affordable energy, available land, and, bordering Russia, market potential, which is also why several Russian growers and investors were present, in addition to visitors from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrzichia, and even Mongolia.
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Vera Bouklakova, Paul van der Valk and Olga Danilova. Modern growlights have a big impact on greenhouse growing in Kazakhstan. Paul also spoke about this in his presentation.
Kazakhstan market potential
Due to the pandemic, last year’s edition welcomed approximately 80 companies. Prior to that show, several projects were announced, and also today, investors and growers remain growing in Kazakhstan, but at the trade show, it also became clear it’s not happening yet. The war, trade limitations, volatile exchange rates, bureaucracy, and back-door dealings affect the development of the greenhouse industry. Last year, suppliers already warned the payback time for a greenhouse doubled because of the higher raw material prices and utilities. The mining industry might seem like a more favorable industry to invest in since Kazakhstan is rich in mining and metal production.
Projects that come to realization are often the smaller ones of 3 to 4 hectares. This is also because government support is awarded independently of the project acreage.
Darkhan Kassabayev, deputy director, and Kanat Koshman, president of Kazakhstan greenhouse association. Together with KZ Growers, they are planning to come to the GreenTech in June.
Collaboration
To boost the horticultural development, the Union of Greenhouses of Kazakhstan is helping growers and suppliers to connect. They update local growers and suppliers and keep them informed on developments in the market and governmental support.
And there are quite a few success stories for them to share. High-tech greenhouses in Kazakhstan have shown the potential to harvest high yields and export their products successfully. The main crops grown are tomatoes and cucumbers, and diversification is taking place as well: either to the snack tomato segment or into other crops like berries.
Ornamental plant cultivation is not very common in Kazakhstan yet, but on the show, quite some floricultural suppliers were present as the production of flowers, again for the Russian market, is slowly being picked up in Kazakhstan.
Bouke Arends, Mayor of the Westland Municipality
Also, many Dutch suppliers were present, including the major of the Dutch greenhouse municipality Westland. Being part of a trade mission, he was looking to strengthen and boost the relationship in the field of agriculture and horticulture between Kazakhstan and the Netherlands.
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