Farmers in the Jeti-Oguz district of Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul region are preparing to launch exports of apples and apricots to China. According to Talantbek Bazarbayev, a resident of Tosor village, the area has more than 600 hectares of apple orchards, and this year's harvest was successful.
Bazarbayev's household harvested apples from over 4 hectares and sold them directly from the field at 50–60 KGS per kilogram (€0.50-€0.60). A local cooperative has also installed a 50-ton cold storage facility, allowing growers to store apples and pears and sell them at higher prices later in the season. Farmers are being trained in proper post-harvest handling and storage techniques.
Negotiations with Chinese buyers are already underway. "China has expressed interest in purchasing our fruit. If talks progress well, we are ready to export apples and apricots from our local growers this year," Bazarbayev said.
Source: www.turmush.kg
