A major new greenhouse development has entered its first operational phase in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, marking one of the largest controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) investments in Central Asia. The project, ALSERA KZ, is being built with the participation of Turkey's Alarko Holding, with a total planned investment of $650 million, according to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture.
Construction began in mid-2023, and the complex is designed to reach a production capacity of 155,000 tons of tomatoes annually. The full site covers 650 hectares, with 208 hectares included in Phase I. During the launch ceremony, the first tomato crop was harvested from the initial operational plots.
By the end of this year, an additional 40 hectares of greenhouses will be commissioned, allowing the project to begin supplying the domestic market with larger volumes of fresh produce during the off-season. Employment figures are expected to reach 2,000 jobs after Phase I and 5,000 jobs once the entire project is completed.
The project also includes the creation of a specialized agro-academic center equipped with a modern laboratory that meets international standards. The center will focus on training skilled greenhouse and agritech specialists, an area where Kazakhstan faces structural shortages, especially as CEA expands.
Kazakhstan's Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov noted that Turkey remains one of Kazakhstan's principal agrifood partners. Fourteen joint agribusiness projects worth $1.1 billion are currently underway. Nationwide, Kazakhstan operates 1,300 hectares of greenhouses producing roughly 200,000 tons of vegetables annually.
Source: agrosektor.kz
