A batch of more than 7,000 apple rootstocks has been delivered to Kazakhstan from the Netherlands. The shipment is aimed at establishing a system of virus-free planting material and improving product quality.
Beeld: © LVVN Astana / Gerben Mellema Naktuinbouw expert with Sagi Soltanbekov, Director of Talgar Branch, Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing
The selection and supply were carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the international organization Naktuinbouw.
At the same time, domestic capacity is also being developed: around 3,000 plants have been grown in laboratories using the in vitro method, including clonal forms of local breeding.
In the Almaty region, a base site has been established for growing virus-free rootstocks, and a mother and cutting orchard is being developed.
The range of apple varieties is also expanding — popular and new varieties have been brought into the country and are undergoing trials.
Beeld: © LVVN Astana / Arie Veldhuizen, Agricultural Counsellor of the Netherlands to Kazakhstan
On April 10, International Garden Day was held in Talgar, where the key theme was the development of virus-free nurseries. This refers to the cultivation of “clean” planting material—free from viruses and infections. This approach forms the foundation of sustainable and productive horticulture.
Experts from the Netherlands, one of the world’s leading countries in agricultural technology, took part in the event. Together with Kazakh specialists, they reviewed the results of implementing a system for producing certified apple planting material.
Beeld: © LVVN Astana / Dutch Naktuinbouw experts Peter van Niewkoop and Gerben Mellema, Anastasia Ryabukha, NL Embassy in Astana, Nurgul Raissova, Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing
International experts from Naktuinbouw noted Kazakhstan’s significant progress and emphasized that the development of “clean” planting material is key to stable yields and high-quality products. It is important that science works in close cooperation with business and farmers—this is how technologies reach real production.
Virus-free planting material provides:
- Increased yields
- Consistent product quality
- Reduced risk of diseases
- Compliance with international standards
Beeld: © LVVN Astana / Garden Day in Talgar, Almaty region, Kazakhstan
Dutch delegation from Phytisanitary agency of the Netherlands headed by Lianne Kersbergen, Deputy Chief Phytosanitary officer of the agency together with her colleagues from NVWA Jeroen Kavelaars and Romy Zuidam, and representatives of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Astana, Kazakhstan participated in the planting ceremony, where Dutch Naktuinbouw experts demonstrated the ways of professional planting.
Beeld: © LVVN Astana / Garden Day at Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing in Talgar, Almaty region of Kazakhstan
Apart from planting Dutch guests had an introduction tour of the in vitro gene bank laboratory and demonstration of technologies for producing virus-free planting material and had a presentation about the results of the scientific and technical program on the development of a virus-free nursery system in Kazakhstan, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan by Balnur Kabylbekova, Associate Professor, PhD, Program Leader, Head of the in vitro Gene Bank Laboratory, Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing.
Beeld: © LVVN Astana / Svetlana Dolgikh, Head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology of Horticultural Crops, Lianne Kersbergen, Head of Dutch delegation, Nurgul Raissova, Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing