In Bashkiria, in the Tuymaz region, a vegetable grower at the Vek state farm reduced costs thanks to innovation. Despite facing challenges like staff shortages due to COVID-19 and increased competition, the farm has stabilized by embracing agronomic know-how and facility modernization.
With three hectares of greenhouses, 20 experienced vegetable growers from Uzbekistan use smart technology to monitor and protect tomato and cucumber crops. During morning checks, sensors photograph suspicious plant areas, sending images to the agronomist for swift action. The temperature and irrigation are also based on its recommendations.
The farm also abandoned middlemen, directly supplying vegetables to retail chains.
A successful experiment involved planting tomato seeds in cucumber seedling bags. A few months later, cucumber stems were cut, and tomatoes entered the fruiting phase. Costs for bags, compost, and fertilizers were reduced by 40%.
Furthermore, the farm has implemented cost-saving measures such as the installation of a diesel power station and a switch to dual-circuit water heating in greenhouses, increasing resilience to unexpected expenses.
Collaboration among large farms, such as sharing surplus seedlings, remains a common practice in the industry.
source: tuvest.ru