A farmer from Atyrau, Bolat Nysanbaev, took up growing cherries for the first time in the region 2 years ago. 6 thousand seedlings brought from Greece were planted on 5 hectares of land. Next year the owner of the garden expects the first fruits.

The head of the Sharkhat peasant farm believes that it was not in vain that he chose this direction. After studying the market, he sent the soil composition to future partners from Greece. Having received their expert assessment, I purchased seedlings. The successful implementation of this unique idea was helped by funds received from the Agricultural Credit Corporation.

“In 2020, I received a loan from the Agricultural Credit Corporation and under the Economy of Simple Things program and purchased a Belarusian tractor, plow, mounted bucket, and loader. A month later, I again took out a soft loan and built a greenhouse. Why was the choice made in favor of cherries? Yes, because you don’t have to wait for the harvest all summer, like with an apple tree - it begins to bear fruit in May. Plus the price for this berry is always high, you can’t lose. It turns out that you spend the same amount of time on apple trees, but get more profit,” says the farmer.

Equipment purchased with loan funds from a financial institution helps in caring for a semi-intensive garden. Bolat Muratovich, who previously worked as a production automation specialist in an oil company, applied his experience in a greenhouse. The processes of watering, supplying fertilizers and others are fully automated here. Cucumbers and tomatoes grow in two mini-greenhouses of 3 acres each. The entrepreneur receives the harvest twice a year and sells it in the regional center at a favorable price. While the cherries bear fruit, greenhouses cover the costs.