Kazakhstan joins the banana industry with impressive results

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Turkish agricultural scientists have developed a special variety of banana trees capable of bearing fruit in greenhouses / Photo by the author

A farm in Kasymbek Datka village, located in the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan, is celebrating its second banana harvest this year. But how is it possible to grow tropical fruit in Kazakhstan? Kursiv.media decided to find out.

The small village, home to around 4,000 residents, had rarely attracted media attention until 2023, when GenGroup Qazaqstan invested $3.7 million to establish a banana farm. Located 25 kilometers from Shymkent, the agricultural complex spans five hectares and provides jobs for 15 local residents.

This December, farm workers are gathering their second banana harvest of the year. Preliminary estimates suggest the farm will produce 400 to 500 tons of bananas by year’s end. The first harvest in March yielded 385 tons, according to Islam Aliyev, managing director of GenGroup Qazaqstan’s banana plantation.

«Currently, we are supplying bananas only to Almaty and Shymkent, covering just 5% of demand in these cities. Ecuador remains Kazakhstan’s main supplier of bananas. However, due to logistics costs, their bananas are 100 tenge ($0.20) more expensive per kilogram than ours. We sell bananas for 600 to 650 tenge ($1.14 to $1.23) per kilogram,» Aliyev explained.

The greenhouse operates using techniques developed by Turkish agricultural scientists and farmers. Inspired by similar banana plantations in Alanya along the Mediterranean coast, GenGroup Qazaqstan founder Timur Uteshev decided to replicate the model in his home region. After negotiating with local specialists in Turkey, he invited them to assist with the project. They visited the Turkestan region, analyzed soil and water samples, and sent the results to Turkey for further examination.

«Tests showed that our soil was entirely unsuitable for banana cultivation due to a lack of nutrients. However, a shortage can sometimes be easier to address than a surplus. So, we decided to use fertilizers and proceeded with greenhouse construction,» Aliyev noted.

GenGroup Qazaqstan collaborated with contractors from Turkey and Azerbaijan to design the project, which was then handed over to experienced specialists. The nutrient deficiency in the five-hectare plot was resolved by using 400 Kamaz trucks of humus.

Although most Turkish specialists have since left, one expert, Bayik Davut, continues to oversee operations, ensuring the harvest meets investor expectations.

«A banana tree will only bear fruit if temperatures remain above 15°C and humidity stays above 80%,» Davut explained / Photo by the author

«We didn’t anticipate such freezing weather in Kazakhstan and were not fully prepared. Banana trees need specific conditions to grow and bear fruit. I’m working to enhance the greenhouse heating system to maintain the necessary temperature. Despite the challenges, I’m very pleased with the results. This industry has great potential here,» Davut said.

The greenhouse employs not only agricultural scientists but also engineers, freight handlers, packers and pickers, ensuring smooth operations and high quality of the products.

Managing director Islam Aliyev, fluent in Kazakh, Russian and Turkish, previously ran his own business in Kazakhstan / Photo by the author

It’s worth noting that the project is only in its first phase. Over the next three years, the farm plans to build three additional greenhouses, expanding production to include bananas, mangoes, avocados, blueberries, tomatoes and cucumbers across 15 hectares. GenGroup Qazaqstan intends to raise $19 million to complete the project and aims to recoup its investment within five years. 

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