The export potential of private agricultural producers, specializing in growing tomato varieties and other crops in greenhouses grows significantly.
Greenhouses play an important role in maintaining food security in the country. They provide the population with fresh vegetables all year round and create permanent jobs. Private agricultural producers of Turkmenistan supply varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, strawberries and other food products to the domestic and foreign markets.
Tomatoes, which are grown in greenhouse conditions in Turkmenistan, have become one of the country's key export commodities, gaining great popularity in the CIS market. According to the agricultural department of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, in 2020, private farms exported about 44.600 tons of food products amounted to 51 million US dollars. Of them, about 40.000 tons of tomatoes grown in greenhouse are amounted to 35.4 million US dollars.
AS compare to 2019, production growth made up 172 percent. However, in January-May this year, according to preliminary data, the volume of exports of tomatoes has already exceeded the indicators of the last year. According to preliminary data, 39.000 tons of fresh vegetables amounted to more than 41 million US dollars were exported through customs terminals in January-May this year. At this rate, by the end of the year, the export volume of tomatoes from Turkmenistan will double as compare to 2020.
The number of countries, expressing interest in high-quality products grown in Turkmenistan has increased. If earlier tomatoes were mainly exported to the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, moreover, to the capital cities, now products with the label “Made in Turkmenistan” are exported to St. Petersburg and the Trans-Urals, the UAE and Kyrgyzstan.
In the coming years, the area of greenhouses in Turkmenistan will grow several times. Currently, about eighty greenhouses with an area of more than 400 hectares have been built and put into operation in agricultural areas. According to the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, in the near future the number of operating farms will increased twice and will occupy 1,700 hectares. Some of the private sector farms involved in the construction of new greenhouses have already started growing vegetables and fruit and berry crops. Nowadays, the number of operating greenhouse farms is constantly growing. In the near future, greenhouses will occupy more than 2,000 hectares.
In particular, in the Kaahka etrap and the Ak Bugday etrap in Ahal Velayat, the agrarians of the Individual Enterprises "Oguzÿoly" and "Daskömür" started growing tomatoes in greenhouses. Entrepreneur Sapardurdy Naliyev uses modern high-tech equipment and innovative methods of plant care in Turkmenbashi, the Balkan velayat. Individual Enterprise "Mahriban oba" in Sakarchaga etrap, the Mary Velayat and Individual Enterprise "Altyngalagyrlyşyk" in the Gerogly etrap, the Dashoguz Velayat successfully develop the greenhouse areas of a new generation. Individual Enterprise "Altyn bürgüt" grows vegetables in greenhouses, using innovative methods in Chardjev etrap, Lebap velayat.
The increase in the area of greenhouses and the expansion of the range of products produced in greenhouses will contribute to increasing export potential, as well as the overall development of the agricultural sector of the country.
Vladimir Komarov
