Revival of the Potato Homeland: Major Agricultural Project Launches in Narynkol

A large-scale agricultural initiative is underway in the Raiymbek District of Almaty Region, aimed at revitalizing abandoned lands and modernizing local farming. On the Karaoy Plateau, 500 hectares of land that had not been irrigated since Soviet times have been brought back into agricultural use through a state-subsidized sprinkler irrigation system, covering 80% of the costs. The production cooperative “Altyn Dan-1,” established in 2022 and uniting eight peasant farms, operates under the anchor cooperation model, enabling members to access government programs, financial institutions, and preferential support measures. Total investment in the project is approximately 780 million tenge.

A key feature of the project is the strong integration of science and production. For three years, the cooperative has partnered with the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing, testing new barley varieties and developing organic seed production on 6 hectares. This year, 250 hectares have been planted with potatoes specifically for PepsiCo, which is building a processing plant in Kazakhstan following its entry into the local market. The cooperative expects a yield of 27–30 tons per hectare, with harvest starting in autumn and chips made from Narynkol potatoes reaching store shelves by 2027. By combining water-saving technologies, scientific collaboration, and international agribusiness, the project is set to transform the Raiymbek District into a major agricultural hub and strengthen the country’s food security.