From Rainfed Farming to Advanced Irrigation Technologies: The Experience of “Kundyz” Peasant Farm in the Pavlodar Region

During the International Potato Tour, participants learned about the work of the “Kundyz” peasant farm, located in the Pavlodar region. This enterprise is a prime example of the successful transformation of a small family business into a large and modern agricultural enterprise.

History of Creation and Scale of the Enterprise

The foundation of the current business was laid back in 1993, when the father of the current managers began cultivating his first 40 hectares of land, planting sunflowers. Officially, the enterprise was registered in its current status in 2009.

Today, “Kundyz” is a strong family business managed by three children of the founder: the older brother, the younger brother, and the sister, each of whom has clearly distributed responsibilities. The younger generation of the family is also introduced to the work from an early age, spending their days in the fields from morning until evening.

• Land Bank: The total area of agricultural land has reached 15,000 hectares.
• Land Distribution: The main part, 14,000 hectares, is occupied by rainfed land (unirrigated arable land), and 1,000 hectares are allocated for intensive irrigation.

Focus on Potatoes and Crop Rotation

A turning point in the farm’s development occurred in 2015 when a strategic decision was made to develop irrigated farming, making potatoes the primary focus. This year, the enterprise celebrates exactly 10 years of working with potatoes.

• Main Variety: The farmers chose the Gala variety, which has proven itself excellently due to its high yield and good storage qualities.
• Crop Rotation on Irrigation: To maintain stability and soil health on the irrigated plots, a clear crop rotation scheme has been established: potatoes, wheat, mustard, and corn grown for grain.

Infrastructure and Technical Equipment

To ensure the preservation of the harvest, modern fast-built hangars were erected on the farm—a vegetable storage facility designed for 20,000 tons.

• Sales: Potatoes are loaded into bags and sold wholesale. The products are supplied to stores across the districts and the region, and are also stored in the regional stabilization fund to ensure there is enough volume for the winter.
• Equipment: The choice of agricultural machinery favored Grimme. Despite the high cost, this equipment has proven its reliability and works without any complaints.

Plant Protection: Competent Approach and Partnership

Phytosanitary safety is one of the priorities of the “Kundyz” farm. Fortunately, no golden nematode has been detected in the farm’s fields. However, combating late blight requires a systematic approach.

• Evolution of Treatments: While in the first years of growing potatoes (in 2015) 1-2 preventive treatments were sufficient, over time, due to the accumulation of diseases in the soil, the number of treatments had to be increased. Now, 6 mandatory treatments are immediately included in the technological map.
• Cooperation with PPP Manufacturers: The enterprise actively works with the “Avgust” company, receiving accessible explanations, conducting experiments, and visiting the partner’s manufacturing plants (including the plant in the “Alabuga” SEZ). On rainfed lands, the most popular products are Balerina and Lastik Top.

Interaction with the Government

In Kazakhstan, the system of using plant protection products (PPP) is closely linked to government subsidies.

• The enterprise submits printed and electronic reports to the agricultural department detailing the consumption of chemicals according to the crop rotation map and sown areas.
• Indicating the preparations clearly and correctly is a matter of receiving state subsidies for what they used.
• The control system is practical: in the event of a sudden pest threat (for example, the flight of the meadow moth), the farm can promptly conduct a double treatment, notifying the responsible people in the agricultural management and local akimats who then come out to inspect.