Kyrlay Agrofirm: 1,200 ha of potatoes, a unified base, irrigation, and ‘smart’ logistics. How Marat Karimov is consolidating infrastructure, refreshing the seed program — and why the farm stepped away from rapeseed — in our Potato Tour report.
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Infrastructure first — yield later. Kyrlay Agrofirm (Republic of Tatarstan) is systematically consolidating previously scattered units on a single site: building service garages and a self-service wash for machinery, switching the light-vehicle fleet to gas, tightening control with video surveillance, and expanding irrigation. The season plan: 1,200 ha of potatoes and 180 ha of vegetables — with strict attention to crop rotation, cover crops, and seed quality.
What they’re building and why
- One production hub. Over four years, a farm once spread across four divisions is being consolidated on one base: about 6,000 m² has been approved.
- New 1,400 m² garage: repair area + storage; overhead crane planned; nearby self-service wash for long vehicles and special machinery; utilities block (break room, tea room).
- Fuel discipline. A temporary filling station has been moved onto the base; all light vehicles run on gas (“sometimes pricier, but you can’t steal it”).
- Control. 12 cameras with high resolution and 24/7 recording — “better than a few weak cameras in 5–6 places.”
“It costs colossal effort and money, but the control you get is huge.”
Acreage and production culture
- Potatoes — 1,200 ha; vegetables — 180 ha.
- Spring this season has been prolonged: operations started earlier than usual, but repeated rains meant potato planting began roughly on schedule (± a couple of days).
- Crop rotation & ‘giving back’ to the soil. After potatoes they sow spring crops and apply cover crops (mustard, oilseed radish): “potatoes take a lot — you must return it.”
- Seed program. They purchase super-super-elite in small lots, then multiply internally, refreshing annually to raise the share of elite class seed.
- Varieties. In the mix — Impala, Colomba, and “Riverom” (as heard — likely Riviera). Impala is praised for storability, taste, and stress tolerance; “storage-sensitive” varieties are sold straight from the field.
Weather, rye, and a tough harvest ahead
- As of the spring inspection, rye is “standing like a wall” — the year promises high yields, but harvest will be difficult (heavy biomass, logistics, losses, pressure on machinery).
Crop economics: where the margin is — and isn’t
- Rapeseed: on ~700 ha revenue was ₽15 million versus ~₽13 million for crop protection — the “arithmetic” didn’t work, so they pulled back.
- Flax: “buyers purchase steadily,” with lower risk and inputs.
- Sunflower: acreage increased (last year 50–70 ha); high-margin but risky.
- Cereals (rye, barley, wheat) act as a safety cushion: if unsold, they go to dairy feed.
People and social responsibility
- 12 villages fall within the farm’s responsibility: road clearing and local issues included.
- On site — a canteen (feeds repair crews and nearby field teams; distant brigades get hot meals in thermoses).
- Dairy organization: 3 milkings per day, ventilation; focus on “comfort, climate, feed, and staff.”
Irrigation and water
- Reel systems (pull out — and they retract under their own power).
- Six dams serving the farm; a large district dam is slated for reconstruction to Kyrlay’s needs; a buffer reservoir is planned to shorten water-delivery distance (up to 20 km).
Machinery and service
- They deliberately use different brands to understand each line’s strengths and weaknesses.
- In practice, the “red machines” “won” — not only in build quality, but also in spare parts and service responsiveness.
Key facts (at a glance)
- 1,200 ha potatoes; 180 ha vegetables.
- Base: ~6,000 m²; new 1,400 m² garage; self-service wash.
- 12 CCTV cameras, 24/7 recording.
- Irrigation: reels, dams, future buffer reservoir.
- Seed program: annual refresh; focus on super-super-elite.
- Cover crops after potatoes: mustard, radish.
- Varieties: Impala, Colomba, “Riviera” (as heard).
- Crop mix rethink: less rapeseed (costs ate margins), more flax and sunflower.
Quotes
- “We’re bringing infrastructure together in one place — higher control, fewer losses.”
- “Impala is strong on storability and taste; storage-sensitive varieties we sell right from the field.”
- “Rye will stand like a wall — a fruitful year, but a hard harvest.”
- “Rapeseed ‘ate’ the economics: ₽15M revenue vs ₽13M on chemicals — that’s not for us.”
