As part of our “International Potato Tour,” we head to the Pavlodar region to take an inside look at the realities of modern vegetable farming. Our guide into the world of large-scale agriculture is Eldar Usmanov, representing the farm LLC “Astyk PV”. His story is an excellent example of how dedication and continuous learning help overcome any difficulties.
From Grain to a “Living Creature”
By education, Eldar is a field agronomist, and he took his first steps in the grain-sowing farms of the North Kazakhstan region as a plant protection specialist. The transition to irrigated vegetable farming was not easy: at first, the crop seemed completely unfamiliar.
However, over five seasons, a deep understanding of the processes developed. Today, Eldar treats potatoes with special reverence:
“It is very demanding, it needs a lot of attention… This is a daily inspection. It is like a living creature, the exact same thing, only a plant, and we are the doctors. We need to watch it so that it is healthy”.
Agricultural Technologies: Nutrition and Protection
The farm takes its seed fund seriously. Last year, they purchased “elite” seeds, which they are now multiplying for their own needs, obtaining a high-quality first reproduction with a planting rate of 2.5 tonnes per hectare.
Special attention is paid to nutrition and soil preparation (which is cultivated here using a moldboard-less tillage method with a chisel subsoiler):
- At planting: 500 kg of diammophoska.
- Before tillage: 200 kg of potassium sulfate and 200 kg of potassium chloride.
- Before ridge formation: 200 kg of ammonium nitrate (with subsequent additions planned).
Plant protection is also built into a strict system. To protect against weeds, soil herbicides (for example, the chemical “Lazurit Ultra”) are used, creating a reliable protective “screen”, and vegetating weeds are removed by subsequent treatments.
Storage and Conquering Markets
Growing a crop is only half the battle; it must be preserved and profitably sold. LLC “Astyk PV” has solid infrastructure:
- Two main vegetable storage facilities: for 6,000 and 3,000 tonnes (with plans for modernization and expansion).
- A strategic hub in Astana: a storage facility for 4,000 tonnes, which acts as a buffer to supply the capital’s market.
- Sales go to the south of the country and to large retail chains, such as Small and Magnum.
An interesting nuance of local trade is the buyers’ perception of potatoes depending on the soil. Due to the dark structure of the earth, Eldar’s potatoes are sometimes sold in the south under the guise of Russian ones (as if grown on black soil). At the same time, competition comes from potatoes grown on the right bank of the Irtysh River, where the soil is clayey, making those tubers visually appear cleaner and yellower.
The Region’s Main Challenge
Despite well-established processes, the region’s potato growers face a serious infrastructure problem: a lack of electricity for irrigation systems. During the season, when neighboring farms (having a total of up to 9,000 hectares of irrigation) simultaneously start dozens of pumps, the power grid’s capacity is absolutely insufficient. Farmers have already brought this critical issue to the attention of local authorities (akimats).
The Secret of Success
When hands drop due to difficulties, Eldar finds strength in the support of his large family and team. But the main driver is a genuine passion for his work.
“If you love your job, you will succeed in many things”.
The International Potato Tour continues its journey, but the stop in Pavlodar clearly showed: behind every kilogram of smooth, beautiful potatoes on the supermarket shelf lies colossal daily work, a scientific approach, and boundless love for the native land.
