Dagestan is one of the leading regions for the production of fruits. So, in 2022, according to preliminary data, about 220 thousand tons were produced, which is almost 13% more compared to the 2021 harvest. In terms of production, the republic is one of the three leading producers of fruits and berries in the country.
In recent years, walnut growing has been actively developing in the republic. In order to get acquainted with the situation in the south of Dagestan, the First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Dagestan, Sharip Sharipov, was there, accompanied by the chief researcher of the Federal Agrarian Research Center of the Republic of Dagestan, Professor Magomed Baratov.
LLC “Polosa” Suleiman-Stalsky district is the leading horticultural farm of the Republic of Dagestan. According to Ramis Kakhrimanov, the manager of this farm, an active laying of orchards is underway, a huge amount of work remains to be done – to lay significant areas of hazelnuts and other fruit crops. Planting material for hazelnuts is grown by ourselves, about 1 million seedlings have already been produced in the nursery on 40 hectares. When laying other fruit crops, they also focus on domestic planting material, although in the first years of the project implementation, the farm also worked with imported planting material.
As First Deputy Minister Sharip Sharipov noted, in 2022, gardens were planted in the commodity sector of Dagestan on an area of 1015 hectares of gardens, 19 farms from 9 districts were laying perennial plantings. The key share of newly planted gardens falls on the Suleiman-Stalsky district, which is almost 75 percent of the national figure.
On the site of Polosa LLC, the best design solutions are implemented, which are collected from different countries and regions. That is why, by decision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Dagestan, a center for the development of horticulture and agricultural technologies is being created on the basis of the flagship of Dagestan horticulture. After the completion of the current plantings, the total area of the local hazelnut plantations will be 2,000 hectares. There are also 552 hectares of apple, pear, almond, persimmon, sweet cherry and other crops, and taking into account the 140 hectares planted these days, the area under other fruit crops will reach 700 hectares. This project is classified as a breakthrough project, monitoring is carried out through the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Special support is also provided through the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, both for the implementation of land reclamation-construction of drip irrigation facilities, and for subsidizing bookmarks and caring for them.
“It is gratifying that today Dagestan is making a real contribution to the import substitution program. It is known that almost 90% of hazelnuts are imported to the Russian Federation, mainly from Azerbaijan, Italy, Turkey. And the access to the fruiting gardens “Strip” will significantly change the structure. This hazelnut garden is already the largest in Russia today, its laying and maintenance is carried out on the basis of the best scientific developments. If in the first years of the implementation of this project, planting material was mainly imported, at present, a nursery has been established here. The grown planting material is used both for their own needs and for those who implement projects. There are similar intentions in the south of Dagestan in other farms. Conditions in the south of the republic are extremely favorable for the cultivation of walnuts and, above all, hazelnuts. Dagestan intends to cover a significant part of our country’s needs for hazelnuts, which is a significant product in the confectionery industry. Today, the consumption of hazelnuts in our country, according to various estimates, is in the range of 50-60 grams per capita, while in Azerbaijan – about 1 kg, in Italy – 1.5 kg. Having your own products is an opportunity to increase availability, increase domestic consumption. The Republic intends to further develop its competitive advantage in this area,” said Sharip Sharipov.
Full version on the website Horticulture Potential of Dagestan
