Nemirov Group farms ~1,000–1,600 ha of potatoes (by year), traces its roots to 1991, and leans on full mechanization, long storage (selling into late spring), and stable contracts with national retailers. Next steps: a ~10,000-ton cold store, +2,000 ha of irrigation, and a three-course rotation of potatoes — vegetables — cereals.

Snapshot

  • Footprint ~6,000 ha; yearly: ~1,600 ha potatoes, ~400 ha vegetables, ~2,000 ha cereals.
  • Operations fully mechanized; guidance/autopilot widely used; maintenance via service crews.
  • Early tech adoption: among the first to receive the new-series GRIMME Varitron self-propelled 4-row harvester (badge 002).

People & skills

  • Supports the local school and village infrastructure.
  • Operator pay “above 100k ₽/month” year-round (per V. Nemirov).
  • Open to training and hiring, including re-training programs for highly mechanized roles.

Market & retail

  • 100% sales to national/regional retail chains (Magnit, X5, Lenta, Monetka, etc.).
  • Pros: stability (contracts, volumes, schedules).
  • Cons: retail specs ≠ GOST; tougher grade/size visuals (small size in 2024/25 led to more downgrades).

Economics (speaker’s view)

  • Mass-producer cost: about ~10 ₽/kg.
  • “Fair” seasonal corridor: start ~15 ₽/kg; winter ~20 ₽/kg.
  • Caveat: overly high prices can “relax” market discipline.

Rotation & 5-year plan

  • Back to rigorous planning: accounting, norms, machine loading.
  • Three-course rotation (potatoes–vegetables–cereals) tailored to the Urals.
  • Cold store ~10,000 t foundation laid; +2,000 ha irrigation to close the agronomic loop.
  • Potato area could reach ~2,000 ha if market capacity and price stability are confirmed.

Key facts

  • 6,000 ha under management; potatoes ~1,600 ha/year.
  • Long storage; late-season sales.
  • Varitron 002 demonstrates early tech adoption.
  • All sales via retail; tougher private specs vs. GOST.
  • 2026–2030: ~10k-t storage, +2k-ha irrigation, 3-course rotation.
  • Price anchors (speaker): 10/15/20 ₽ (cost/start/winter).

Quotes

  • “Potatoes are fully mechanizable—from planting to storage and sale.”
  • “Retail brings stability, but their specs are tougher than GOST.”
  • “Price mustn’t sink to cost; that’s zero or negative.”
  • “We’re ready to train people—machinery already runs on autopilot.”

Nemirov, Kurgan: tech, storage, retail, and a plan for ~10,000-ton storage and +2,000 ha of irrigation.
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Viktor Kovalev CEO
POTATOES NEWS Viktor Kovalev is the founder of Potatoes.News and the creator of the International Potato Tour (IPT) — a global multimedia project that connects potato farmers, processors, researchers, and agribusiness companies across more than 20 countries. Viktor writes about potato production, processing technologies, storage, seed breeding, export markets, innovations, and sustainable agriculture. His work combines journalism, field research, and video storytelling, giving readers and viewers a unique perspective on the global potato industry. Areas of expertise: Global potato market trends Seed potato production and certification Potato processing (chips, flakes, fries, starch) Smart farming and agri-technologies Storage, logistics, and export Interviews and field reports from leading producers
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