In a recent episode of POTATOHOLIC the film crew visits Agro Trade PV in Pavlodar Region and interviews Deputy Director Erkin Tleubekovich Almagambetov. The six-minute clip shows how Kazakh farmers are turning an arid steppe into a high-yield, export-ready potato cluster.
1. Agro Trade PV – a next-generation farm
- Scale. The company is installing irrigation across 1 634 ha, building a 1 200-head dairy, and erecting a climate-controlled store for 10 000 t of potatoes—all financed through Baiterek-group institutions (Agrarian Credit Corporation and the Damu Fund).
- Team. Under Almagambetov’s guidance, engineers, agronomists, and IT specialists employ precision farming tools that pushed first-season yields beyond 40 t/ha.
- Mind-set. His core message: “The steppe can grow potatoes of European quality—technology and perseverance are the only prerequisites.”
2. The technology toolbox
| System | Benefit to the farm |
|---|---|
| GPS planting & autosteer | Cuts seed use by ~7 % and guarantees even emergence |
| Moisture probes + drip irrigation | Saves up to 35 % water and delivers nutrients with surgical accuracy |
| “Smart-climate” storage | Keeps T/RH within ±0.5 °C, extending marketability into spring |
These solutions position the farm for both the domestic fresh market and industrial processing (chips, fries).
3. Kazakhstan’s potato market in numbers
- Export potential after 2024 is estimated at up to 500 000 t in favorable market conditions.
- Main foreign buyer: Uzbekistan (300 000–500 000 t per year).
- Top farms are already hitting 50–55 t/ha, approaching Eastern-European leaders.
Yet Kazakhstan still runs a vegetable trade deficit in value terms; storage and downstream processing are the keys to a lasting surplus.
4. Why the project matters to the industry
- Proof of concept. Agro Trade PV shows investors that ag-tech and irrigation pay off even in a sharply continental climate.
- Talent magnet. A modern farm attracts young specialists, easing the rural skills gap.
- Environmental gain. Precise water and N dosing cut nutrient losses and shrink the carbon footprint.
The POTATOHOLIC series plans to spotlight dozens of similar sites, forming an open library of hands-on cases for CIS growers.
5. Challenges & next steps
| Challenge | Solution discussed in the video |
|---|---|
| Limited processing capacity | Partnerships with private factories and the state “Economy of Simple Things” program |
| FX swings & costly imported seed | Domestic seed breeding plus long-term tenge contracts |
| Weather risks (drought, frost) | Drought-tolerant varieties and crop-insurance schemes |
Conclusion
The story of Agro Trade PV—and Erkin Almagambetov’s interview—is a vivid example of how smart investment, technology, and passion can transform traditional agriculture. For Kazakhstan, aiming to become a major potato exporter, projects like this mean more than extra tonnage: they lay the groundwork for an entire ecosystem, from breeding seed to ready-to-eat snack products. And the POTATOHOLIC series is an ideal stage for these successes to be noticed and replicated far beyond Pavlodar.
