In Shymkent, Kazakhstan, local company GenGroup Qazaqstan has begun harvesting bananas grown in industrial volumes for the first time in the country. While there is interest from both domestic buyers and Russian retailers, including the large chain Pyaterochka, the company is currently focused on serving the local market, Kursiv reports.
"Pyaterochka offered to buy the entire harvest so that we wouldn't sell it to anyone else. But our founder insists that the bananas stay on the domestic market, even if it means earning less," said GenGroup Qazaqstan's Managing Director, Islam Aliyev.
The initiative began when company founder Timur Uteshev explored banana cultivation practices in Turkey and decided to replicate them in Kazakhstan. A suitable site was selected in the Sairam district of Shymkent, where Turkish greenhouse technology was adapted to local conditions.
Construction of the greenhouse began in 2022, and by 2023, the first crop of Anamuz bananas was harvested. The first year yielded 385 tons, with the next harvest expected to exceed 500 tons. The company plans to reach 1,500 tons annually in the long term.
Currently, the bananas are sold in Shymkent, Almaty, and Taraz. The goal is to eventually supply up to 25% of Kazakhstan's banana market. Presently, the greenhouse meets just 1% of national demand. Locally grown bananas sell for about 600 tenge per kilogram (€1.03), which is cheaper than imported ones due to lower transportation costs.
Looking ahead, GenGroup Qazaqstan also plans to cultivate other exotic fruits, including mangoes, avocados, pineapples, and blueberries. A 23-hectare area has been prepared, and a second greenhouse is under construction. Turkish agronomists oversee the production process.
The project cost approximately $4 million, with a projected payback period of around five years. The facility uses organic fertilizers and efficient heating and irrigation systems.
Source: eldala.kz