In the village of Zorya, Rivne region, Ukraine, greenhouses imported from the Netherlands back in 1972 are still in operation. Tomatoes and cucumbers are grown here on coconut substrate.
"We analyze the substrate every two weeks and adjust the nutrition accordingly. Everything can be grown in soil, but this is about new technological opportunities. Earlier, we used mineral wool, but since there were problems with its utilization, coconut is more organic and sustainable," explains chief agronomist Mykola Sych.
For tomato pollination, special bumblebees are used. "We bring in 2–3 hives per hectare every month. Without them, pollination would not happen," Sych adds.
More than 100 people are employed in the greenhouses, working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vegetables grown in Zorya are sold not only in the Rivne region but also in other parts of Ukraine.
"This is one of the oldest greenhouse complexes in Ukraine, since it was imported from the Netherlands in 1972. Seeing that the business was successful, ten years later, we started to expand with Ukrainian-made greenhouses. Today we operate 8.3 hectares of greenhouses," says company director Antonina Sych.
She notes that only cucumbers and tomatoes are cultivated here, with no plans to diversify into other vegetables.
Source: Суспільне Рівне
