On his plot, which is over one hectare, the first strawberries have already bloomed. He plans to start selling his first harvest within the next week.
Currently, the price of a kilogram of strawberries in Batken is 1600 soms.
“I have been growing strawberries for three years. In the first year, I experimented with six varieties and then chose the best ones. At the moment, I am planting Alba and Aprika. On an area of 25 ares, I covered the beds with film to create warm conditions. The flowers have already fallen, and buds have formed. Within the next week, the berries will ripen. In total, I am cultivating over one hectare and expect a yield of about 30 tons. Last year, we harvested 18 tons from one hectare, and we had less experience. Now, with new knowledge, we hope for a better result,” Bekmamat shares.
The harvest takes place from April to May. Strawberries can be grown both in greenhouses and in the open air. I covered the beds with film to speed up the ripening process by 10-15 days compared to open plantings.
“My sisters became my inspiration to get into the strawberry business. By helping them, I became interested in this field myself. I studied in Bishkek, but after my father's death three years ago, I returned to my native village. My sister and brother-in-law were already involved in strawberries, and that motivated me. My mother and I take care of the plants together. Many people in our village have started to show interest in this crop. I started with a loan of 400,000 soms, spent on seedlings, and managed to earn between 600,000 and 700,000 soms, which allowed me to pay off my debts. The following year, I bought a car. Now it’s the third year, and we are on the verge of harvesting. I spent 300,000 soms on the greenhouse, and I hope that this harvest will cover all expenses,” he shares.
Abdikadyrov also noted that the Aprika variety was developed in Italy and is characterized by high yields, producing fruit only once a year. Each bush currently has 30-40 flowers.
“The main challenge is the timely removal of runners and weeds. This crop is very sensitive. If we do not protect it from diseases and adverse weather conditions, we can lose the entire harvest in one day. Every year, we renew the seedlings. When the temperature rises, we open the film, and when it’s cold, we cover it again. Irrigation is done by drip method, every 2-3 days. The prices for strawberries are currently 1600 soms per kilogram, and in 10 days we will also start sales. We export strawberries to Kazakhstan and Russia; special buyers come in trucks to take the harvest directly from the field. We also sell part of it at the markets in Batken,” Bekmamat added.
- The Alba and Aprika varieties are Italian early-ripening strawberry varieties known for their high yields, berry density, and resilience. Alba (very early) produces large, bright red, conical fruits suitable for early harvesting. Aprika (early-mid) is distinguished by excellent adaptability, sweetness, and good immunity.
