Kazakhstan, one of the former countries of the Soviet Union, gained
independence in 1991, and consists of lowlands, hilly plains and plateaux,
with a small mountainous area. The continental climate of the area is
characterized by extreme conditions ranging from scorching hot summer
temperatures (45 oC) to freezing cold winters (-37 oC). Rainfalls average
400-500 mm Per year. The winter season stretches from October to April,
with chances for frost extending into the month of May. In the summer, the
average temperature is around 28 oC. Most agricultural land is used for
pasture.
The Kunarli Farm was originally a large kolkhoz, located about 25 km
northeast of the capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty, in the district of
Ernbershikazak. In cooperation with MASHAV, the Centre for International
Cooperation of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs and USAID, it has
been privatized, and the farm turned into a stockholders' company. Four
large villages are included within the domain of the former kolkhoz, and
the farm boasts a dairy, factories, a building company and crops ranging
from feed crops to vegetables. The total cultivated area is approximately
3,650 hectares.
In its first season of growing vegetables, the Kunarli Farm succeeded in
obtaining high yields with improved quality, and was able to harvest
earlier than neighbouring farms. These improvements were the result of a
combination of innovations introduced into the former kolkhoz; they
included the use of new hybrid varieties, netting with insect-proof nets,
drip irrigation and irrigation control by tension meters, as well as
fertilizing with compound fertilizers, hot water and improved hot air
heating.
Through the understanding of these new technologies and their adaptation
to local conditions, the Kunarli Farm was able to achieve a series of
impressive successes. In 1997, the greenhouse area was doubled, and a plot
of 3.6 hectare was planted for demonstration purposes with open field
crops, such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. At the end of May 1997, a
new project covering 35 hectares of open field vegetable crops was
planted, using drip irrigation as well as sprinklers. The greenhouses
contained four walk-in tunnels (locally built) that served in the past as
a nursery. These tunnels were renovated, covered with polyethylene
covering imported from Israel, and two side-windows were erected from the
ground up. Underneath these windows Israeli insect-proof nets were
installed. However, the side-windows were not sufficient to provide
satisfactory ventilation, given the high summer temperatures prevailing in
the area. Therefore, the covering was sprayed with lime and a 22" fan was
operated as soon as the temperature reached 28 oC.
Future plans include trebling the greenhouse area (part of which will be
used as a commercial nursery), and establishing a centre for counselling
and training. For flower growing, the soil was tilled twice and four beds
were prepared in each tunnel. Two tons of manure were distributed to each
tunnel before tillage.
An important decision was made to use drip irrigation instead of flood
irrigation, as had been done in the past. Many advantages resulted from
the use of this type of irrigation, the most obvious being water
conservation and the reduction of plant disease caused by high humidity.
It also offered the possibility of combining fertilization with
irrigation (fertigation). A well located water source enabled water to be
pumped into a huge container, which then pumped into the head control,
placed at the entrance to each tunnel. Since the water quality is high,
with very little clogging problems and a very low salinity coefficient,
this system proved quite efficient.
Fertilizers were provided after planting, and only through the irrigation
system. In order to use space and light efficiently, as well as to reach
higher tomato and cucumber yields and improved quality, trellising
(high-wire latticework support) was used, involving the fastening of each
plant to a wire and removing all side shoots, in order to assure that the
plant climbs vertically instead of horizontally. For the flowers that were
cultivated (chrysanthemums), two layers of netting were used for support.
The first vegetable season
The first vegetable season, in which Israeli experience and technologies
were adapted to local conditions, proved a tremendous success. The
cucumber harvest received prices five time higher than those of local
farmers.
The first tomato harvest was equally successful, and obtained high prices;
however, the second season, of both cucumber and tomato, was less
successful and the yields poorer, owing to deteriorated weather conditions
and plant diseases. The conclusion reached indicated that it was essential
to begin the first crop earlier, in order to start the second crop before
the winter weather sets in (lack of light, high humidity and low
temperatures). In general, the quality of the vegetables was found to
be far above the local level, and therefore received higher prices
throughout the season.
The chrysanthemums gave an average of four flowers per plant and earned
substantial prices on the local market.
The success of the Kunarli Project
The success of the Kunarli Project is due to the efficacious cooperation
between the director, head agronomist, the greenhouse manager and the
Israeli expert. Another important factor is the use of advanced Israeli
technologies and adapting them to local conditions. All these elements
turned a fallow, inefficient kolkhoz into an economically productive
privatized farm, with a fair chance for success.
The Kunarli Project is one of MASHAV-USAID Programmes in the CIS, aimed at
addressing key agricultural issues, promote economic endeavors, as well as
international cooperation. It reflects Israel's commitment to share with
others appropriate technologies, know-how, human resource training and
practical experience gained in agricultural and rural development.