From 29th August to 13th September, EkoNiva representatives together with EIDala.kz information portal toured main agricultural regions of Kazakhstan. AgroCaravan Crop 2022 Project participants visited partners’ fields, observed harvesting operations, researched agronomic practices applied in the climatic conditions of Kazakhstan and the needs of local growers.

The group’s itinerary included 14 farming enterprises in the most developed agricultural provinces – East-Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, North-Kazakhstan, Akmola, Kostanay, Karaganda oblasts. In general, local farmers have had a good season with proper timing of precipitation in the majority of regions. Though the weather conditions are extremely important for a good crop, proper agronomic practices, cutting-edge machinery, fertiliser, chemicals and high-quality seeds are also integral elements to great performance and ensure a consistent performance in any climatic conditions.

‘EkoNiva-Semena has been supplying seeds to the Republic for over eight years. In total, last year, we shipped 22,000 tonnes of highly productive seeds, thereof 5,000 tonnes sold to Kazakhstan. Our client database features about 300 operating companies, and we keep on ramping up production and sales’, says Marina Gerasimova, EkoNiva-Semena Marketing Department Manager.

The majority of deliveries includes spring crops, such as wheat and barley. The south regions also buy seeds of high-value varieties of winter wheat, oats, peas, lentils, soya beans and perennial grasses from the company’s portfolio.

‘EkoNiva-Semena grows 3 varieties of spring wheat. Licamero, an early maturing variety with high gluten, has yielded 3.8 tonnes/ ha. Time-proven Triso with consistently high yields has delivered around 3.5 tonnes/ ha this season. We also sowed Toccata that yielded 4.1 tonnes/ ha despite only one proper rain over the vegetation season. It is essential for a farmer to remember that the seed quality comes first if he expects a bumper crop’, underlines Daniil Baybulatov, Director of SBA AgroGroup, East Kazakhstan oblast.

Over the event, all participating producers could talk to EkoNiva-Semena experts and get individual advice on choosing the crops and varieties that fit best their soil and climatic conditions in the respective areas.