Life in the Regions: Absamad Aitkulov from the city of Kerben makes apple chips and cookies from a mixture of dried fruits
Although this year's harvest turned out to be modest, he managed to organize processing and make a profit.
Previously, Aitkulov could dry and sell up to 10 tons of plums, but this season he collected only about 1 ton and decided to also engage in drying them.
“In the past, we sold between 5 to 10 tons of plums, receiving 100–120 soms per kilogram, and that satisfied us. This year I took a risk and developed a project that allowed me to purchase new equipment. We thoroughly wash, dry the plums, and use vacuum packaging. Products that used to sell for 100 soms now cost up to 500 soms. Even small packages of 200 grams can be sold for 100 soms. I took the products to fairs, and they sold out. For us farmers, it is important to engage in processing and sales ourselves; otherwise, others benefit. Our raw materials are taken to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, where they are processed and brands are created. I am confident that soon we will also be able to enter the global market with our processed products,” he shares.
Absamat cuts the plums and dries them, creating a product that is perfect for baby food. From a mixture of dried fruits, he also produces two types of cookies.
In addition to plums, he is engaged in drying apples and rose hips.
“I decided to try making apple chips from 300 kilograms of apples. At a three-day fair in Bishkek, they were in high demand. This product is natural and healthy. We also finely chopped apples and added them to tea, and we gained regular customers. Now I dry all the fruits and vegetables that grow in my garden, including tomatoes and eggplants. Even barberries and rose hips, which remain unpicked in the forest, I also dry and sell at fairs. The main thing is to keep moving forward, and the rest depends on fate,” A. Aitkulov concluded.
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