ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 11. The Turkestan region in Kazakhstan has gathered a harvest of over 580,000 tons of melons this year, Trend reports.
According to the country's Ministry of Agriculture, the cultivation of melons covered approximately 71,300 hectares in the region. As of today, the farmers have successfully collected 176,000 tons of watermelons and 405,000 tons of cantaloupes.
The annual melon production in Turkestan surpasses domestic demand by 3.5 times, making it a significant export commodity. The excess produce is exported to various countries, with Russia, Belarus, and Latvia being the primary consumers of Kazakh watermelons and cantaloupes. As the ministry noted, melons have become the second most export-oriented commodity in the region, following cotton.
Overall, to support the industry, the government allocated 6.5 billion Kazakh tenge ($14.7 million) this year, aimed at subsidizing mineral fertilizers. Additionally, an allocation of 375 million Kazakh tenge ($849,979) have been made to reimburse the costs of purchasing pesticides and biogens. Furthermore, 600 million Kazakh tenge ($1.3 million) has been envisaged to support seed production.
Additionally, the ministry noted that financing for the current planting season began last December. Farmers in the Turkestan region obtained preferential loans totaling 11.4 billion Kazakh tenge ($25.8 million) through the Agrarian Credit Corporation. Moreover, 48,200 tons of discounted diesel fuel were provided to the region's farmers, further facilitating their agricultural activities.