Uzbekistan imported 4 400 tonnes of kiwi in 2021, which is twice more than in 2020. However, if we take into account that the volume of kiwi imports decreased by 46% in the “pandemic” 2020, it turns out that the imports in 2021 increased by 7% compared to the “pre-pandemic” 2019, EastFruit analysts note.

According to the State Statistics Committee, about 95% of kiwis imported to Uzbekistan in 2021 were supplied by three countries – Iran (77.3%), Pakistan (8.9%) and Turkey (8.4%). At the same time, all three main kiwi suppliers managed to significantly increase their exports to Uzbekistan in 2021:

– The volume of kiwi supplies from Iran to Uzbekistan in physical terms amounted to 3 400 tonnes, an increase by 120% compared to 2020, and of 7% compared to 2019.

– Kiwi imports from Pakistan in 2021 amounted to 392 tonnes in volume, an increase of 32% compared to 2020 and 5% compared to 2019.

– Turkey delivered 368 tonnes of kiwi to Uzbekistan, which is 25% more than in 2020 and 9% more than in 2019.

It is worth noting that EastFruit analysts have repeatedly pointed out that kiwi can be quite successfully grown not only for domestic consumption in Uzbekistan, but also for export.

We remind you that the decision of the government of Uzbekistan to exempt the import of a number of fruits, including kiwi, from customs duties was announced on October 21, 2021. Obviously, the decision is one of the factors contributing to the increase in import volumes of these fruits, including kiwi.

Сообщение Uzbekistan doubled kiwi imports in 2021 появились сначала на EastFruit.

According to EastFruit analysts, Ukraine continues to increase kiwi imports. In the first 11 months of 2021, Ukrainian fruit importers purchased 11% more kiwis from abroad than in the same period in 2020.

The total volume of kiwi imports to Ukraine in 11 months of 2021 reached 16 400 tonnes. Thus, according to our estimates, the average consumption of kiwi in Ukraine exceeded 400 grams per capita per year for the first time.

“The average consumption of kiwi in Ukraine is below the average, but is gradually increasing due to rising household incomes and a growing interest in a healthy lifestyle. Kiwi consumption in other countries of the world is also growing. The average consumption of kiwi per person is now about 600 grams per year. At the same time, the leader in per capita consumption of kiwi is not New Zealand, as many believe, but Greece. The average citizen of Greece consumes up to 14-15 kg of kiwi annually. At the same time, kiwi consumption is higher in those countries where it is grown,” Andriy Yarmak, economist at the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), explains.

By the way, Greece has traditionally been the largest supplier of fresh kiwi to the Ukrainian market. However, according to the results of the first 11 months of 2021, Greece lost its status as the main supplier of kiwi to Ukraine for the first time. Iran has increased exports by 67% over the year and bypassed Greece in this rating. Thus, according to the results of 11 months of 2021, Iran accounted for 40% of kiwi imports to Ukraine. Greece remained second with a share of 37%, although last year it accounted for 52% of all kiwi supplies to Ukraine. Italy is third with a share of 14%.

The fastest to increase kiwi exports to Ukraine is Turkey. Turkey did not export kiwi to the Ukrainian market two years ago, and in 2021 it became fifth, having supplied more than 700 tonnes in 11 months.

The average retail price for kiwi in Ukraine in January 2022 was 50-60 UAH/kg ($1.7-2.1/kg). It means kiwi was quite affordable and costs on average twice as much as good-quality apples. If we compare prices in the countries of the region, kiwi prices in Ukraine are relatively low, although they are higher than in Georgia, which itself is now actively increasing the production and exports of kiwi.

Сообщение Iran became the largest supplier of kiwi to Ukraine in 2021 появились сначала на EastFruit.

2021 was not an easy year for Georgian growers and exporters of fruits and vegetables, but despite the difficulties, it ends quite well. Georgian EastFruit team offers 10 main trends and news of the sector.

1. The ability to diversify exports to the most attractive markets while saving on logistics. According to the results of trade in 10 months of 2021, Georgia has already earned almost $150 million from the export of nuts and fruits. The figures for this group are most likely not to change much compared to 2020 and export earnings will be close to $160 million. As for vegetables, we note an unprecedented growth in exports +163 % – from $8.7 million in 2020 to $22.8 million in 10 months of 2021. As for the export structure, the share of Russia is a record one over the past 10 years – 80%. The geography of exports of fruits and nuts from Georgia includes Russia and the EU – 32% and 47%, respectively (based on the data for 2020), but there is a trend towards an increase in exports to Russia this year. While trade with the EU is mainly concentrated on hazelnuts, 80–90% of the rest of the group (berries, stone fruits, apples, citrus fruits) is exported to the Russian Federation.

Although the final trading results for 2021 will be available only in the second half of January, it is clear that the value of Russia as a trading partner of Georgia has grown by 5-7% compared to last year. As the experience of many countries, including Georgia itself, shows, an excessive focus on one trading partner is very risky, especially if it is as unpredictable as Russia. Therefore, the general trend is very negative.

On the other hand, it is gratifying that some Georgian exporters are trying to diversify their exports and are exploring the market of the Middle East. The export of fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries) by air is already well mastered, but Georgia is doing bad in exporting such perishable goods by land.

There were the first attempts to export table grapes to Qatar in refrigerated containers through Azerbaijan and Iran this year. This invaluable experience has shown all the difficulties of the process – packaging, the formation of an export batch of high-quality products and the proper control over the entire supply chain. At the same time, we also managed to feel the potential profitability of this direction. Importers from the Middle East give a positive assessment of Georgian fruits and are interested in purchasing table grapes, cherries, peaches, plums and oranges from Georgia.

2. Price and trade swings, records and potato business openings. 2021 started with growers’ protests over low prices for potatoes due to lack of demand, but in the following months external demand increased so much that the export of Georgian potatoes overtook even expensive and trendy blueberries in terms of revenue by July.

Exports in the middle of the year were driven by low stocks and high prices for potatoes in Russia, which previously supplied potatoes to Georgia. Russians bought so many potatoes in the second quarter of 2021 that Georgia even had to import unusually large volumes of potatoes in July and August to meet domestic demand.

When harvest started in September, the exports of potatoes from Georgia became possible again. The reason is the same – high prices for potatoes in Russia due to poor harvests and reduction of areas planted with potatoes. Following the resumption of intensive potato exports in the fall, the Georgian market may face a new potato shortage in the coming months.

Overall, Georgia exported potatoes worth a record $16 million in the first 11 months of 2021, which is 4 times higher than the previous export record. Prices during export periods were the highest (if compared on a monthly basis) in the last 7 years.

The last season has shown that the Georgian supply chain is largely unprepared, with importers buying potatoes straight from fields. However, the situation was unique this year – Russia did not have much choice in where to get potatoes, so the buyers agreed to these conditions. If Georgia wants to be a stable exporter of potatoes in the future, the industry will have to invest a lot of money in storing, washing, sorting and packaging, as well as improving the quality of potatoes.

This is why another major event in the Georgian potato business in 2021 should be noted – some Georgian potato growers became convinced that investments in quality pay off. Potato growers who focused on quality felt more confident and earned more, regardless of the overall supply and demand.

3. Georgia has set a course for the development of the greenhouse sector. According to Georgia’s agriculture development strategy 2030, new greenhouses in the country will be createdon 500 hectares.

Aromatic herbs production in greenhouses is a traditional business for Western Georgia growers who export 50-60% of the country’s fresh aromatic herbs. But the approaches to production, packaging and logistics that we showed in this video remain ineffective and outdated. Therefore, Georgia is gradually losing even traditional markets for fresh herbs, yielding them to Iran and Uzbekistan.

To modernize the sector, increase the technological level of production, handling, cooling and logistics, and thus ensure the export of greenhouse products to a more profitable price segment, as the Italian company Orto Ricci did, the authorities are inviting investors to the country. And if the well-known state project “Plant the Future” and preferential agricultural loans are focused on supporting Georgian companies, then foreign investors are invited to develop the production of vegetables or herbs for supplies to the Russian market or the markets of the former USSR and the Middle East.

The Agrozone Imereti greenhouse cluster provides foreign investors with a unique opportunity to purchase or lease a fully prepared serviced agricultural plot in Georgia through a predetermined foreign investment approval mechanism.

If you have not submitted your application yet, hurry up – applications for participation will be accepted in the Call for Proposals until the end of 2021!

4. Nut production in Georgia is expanding rapidly. In the next 7 years, the production of almonds in Georgia will grow16 times, and the coefficient of self-sufficiency in walnuts has already approached 100%. Therefore, growers who sell the first harvest from modern almond and walnut orchards to the local market are already planning to export. Having experience in managing the quality of hazelnuts, Georgian walnut growers invest in further processing: drying, shelling and sorting. This year two new plants joined the existing walnut processing plant, the work of which is available to watch here. Of particular interest was our video about the work of the Anigosi walnut drying and processing plant.

According to the Association of Almond and Walnut Producers, next year five more factories will be added to the existing capacity, which now reaches 14 tonnes of walnuts per hour. At the same time, there is a shortage of capacities for processing almonds. According to EastFruit, the first almond processing plant is scheduled to open in early 2022. You can see how almonds are harvested in the largest orchard in Georgia here.

In addition to the most popular nuts in the world – almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and pistachio – American pecans also grow in Georgia. They were initially planted for durable wood production, but hazelnut importers appear to be interested in pecans as well. Although there are no commercial plantations in the country yet, this nut is already being handled for export to traditional markets – the EU and China. According to the growers’ forecasts, the current potential of Georgia is 150 tonnes of pecans per year.

5. Growth in exports and a harvest of hazelnuts with severe quality problems. The situation on the hazelnut market remains complicated. Despite the fact that global trade in hazelnuts is fallingon average by 8% per year, additional pressure on prices is exerted by the collapse of the Turkish lira, the rate of which has more than halved since the beginning of the year. Therefore, Georgian trade slowed down in November and the factories are working on fulfilling contracts.

The hazelnut season turned out to be rather short, as due to the cold spring and heavy rains in August, the hazelnut harvest in Georgia began a week or two later than expected. The rains also affected the quality of hazelnuts from Western Georgia. Therefore, along with the record export volume, we also noted a record number of returns of hazelnuts from the EU due to non-compliance with quality and safety requirements. There were 13 returns in the 2020 season, and there are already 25 returns in the 2021 season, although it’s not over yet. At the same time, the growers claim that when repeated analyzes were carried out in 2021, no traces of aflatoxins were detected.

Could the struggle for quality influence the decision of the global leader Ferrero to sell 1.8 thousand hectares of hazelnut orchard in Georgia to a local company? The question remains open.

Despite the problems, Georgian hazelnut exporters still managed to get the highest export earnings in the last five years. This was due to a poor harvest in Italy and, accordingly, a sharp increase in demand for Georgian inshell hazelnuts, which Italians use for processing. As a result, the export of inshell hazelnuts increased to a record 5.9 thousand tonnes and $16 million in August-November 2021. The total income from all hazelnut exports, which is slightly overestimated due to sorting and re-export back to the EU, amounted to $68 million for the specified period.

The general trend of the last few years – the production of hazelnuts in Georgia is moving to the east – to Kakheti, where favorable conditions are created for the cultivation of hazelnuts due to climate change. Commercial hazelnut plantations in eastern Georgia have already been established by a Swiss chocolate maker, which was one of the main news of the year for the sector. On the contrary, Ferrero sold its plantations in Georgia.

6. The first commercial avocado plantation was established in Georgia. We have repeatedly noted that avocado is the fastest growing positionin the global fruit and vegetable trade. In this regard, the establishment of the first commercial avocado plantation in Georgia by Nutsge on 6 hectares in Lanchkhuti, Guria municipality, was a great news for the region. The owners talked little about the details of the project from the start, although they hoped that by planting the right varieties and creating the right conditions, their project would be a success. The first winter requires special attention, when the seedlings will pass the frost resistance test in practice.

The farm has not yet passed the cold test, as the harsh weather in Georgia is expected in the coming months. Nevertheless, the company has already covered the trees with agrofibre to protect them from frost. It is expected that the temperature in winter will not drop below minus 10 degrees Celsius in the area where the farm is located.

Some problems with the seedlings have already showed up due to excess moisture, which in some plants caused root rot. Heavy rains in late summer and early fall this year have created problems not only for avocados, but also for traditional horticultural crops in Western Georgia, such as hazelnuts and mandarins. Although some of the seedlings have dried up, the company has no plans to replace them with imported seedlings. They plan to work only with plants that survive, hoping to start producing their own seedlings in the future.

7. Blueberry exports growth by 50% to a new record level. Of course, this is a new record. The 2021 season started a week later due to unfavorable weather, and the first early batches become availableon the market at the end of May. Export expectations were high from the outset, and they were confirmed – Georgia received record revenues from blueberry exports in the 2021 season. Export revenue increased by 48% compared to the previous season and amounted to $5.5 million as of August 2021.

By the end of the season, blueberry exports reached almost 1,000 tonnes and increased in volume by 44% compared to 2020. The volume of blueberry exports from Georgia has grown 5 times in 2 years!

There were also some obstacles – panic among blueberry growers and exporters was caused by new rules for access to the Russian market. Exporters refrained from purchasing blueberries for some time after receiving this information, which led to a sharp drop in domestic prices and a temporary suspension of exports. It is possible that if not for these problems, the exports of blueberries from Georgia would have been even higher at the end of the 2021 season.

The EastFruit team visited the orchards during berry harvesting, studied the details of their production and exports, and shared an unique video about the export opportunities of Georgian blueberries. If you are planning to import blueberries from Georgia, EastFruit has prepared a list of the largest blueberry growers with contacts, volumes and photos of plantations.

Blueberries are attracting more and more investments, both in production and technology improvements. A representative office of a leading producer of blueberry seedlings has been operating in the country for the second season.

8. Georgia is increasing the exports of persimmons. Despite the fact that the persimmon harvest was damaged by severe hailin the east of the country in the Kakheti region in 2021, and in some cases it was completely destroyed, the production and exports of persimmon in Georgia increased again.

In 2021, Georgia set a new record for persimmon exports. As of November 2021, Georgia exported 10.2 thousand tonnes of persimmons, and export earnings reached $5.1 million, which is already 9% more than in the same period last year. However, the export data for the 2021 season will change again in December as the exports are still ongoing.

You can find out which persimmon varieties prevail in Georgia at this link.

9. Breakthrough in the production of table grapes. Largely thanks to the promotion of information on the prospects and opportunities for growing table grapes in Georgiaand investments in modern technologies of growing, storage and processing by the FAO and EBRD project, within the framework of which the EastFruit platform was created, Georgia made a real breakthrough in this sector in 2021.

As of the end of November 2021, Georgia had already exported 775 tonnes of table grapes from the 2021 harvest, which is 3.2 times more than exports in the same period of 2020. Let’s remind that earlier Georgia was a large importer of table grapes, despite the excellent conditions for their cultivation.

Almost all exports of Georgian table grapes were made to Russia, creating risks for the industry. Therefore, diversification of exports should be a priority for Georgian growers and exporters of table grapes in the next season.

It is gratifying that Georgia is focusing on the popular and well-known table grape varieties: Red Globe, Thompson Seedless, Crimson Seedless and Regal Seedless. A Table Grape Association has been already established in the country.

In 2021, the first table grapes were harvested by Georgia’s largest grower that owns 30 hectares of modern vineyards. In the first year, the company harvested up to 100 tonnes of table grapes and sold them on the local market.

10. The success of the Georgian kiwi in the global market. Georgia managed to get into the global trade trend and become the leading regional producer of kiwi. Kiwi was second only to blueberries, avocados, cherries, raspberries, durian and mango in terms of growth in global trade in fruits and berries. It is also interesting that Japan, which is demanding on the quality, is the main sales market for Georgian kiwi – since 2016, about 70% of kiwi exports from Georgia have accounted for Japan. Japan also pays a fairly high price for quality fruit. A lot of interesting information about Georgian kiwi is available here.

If you think that we have missed something of the important events of the Georgian produce business in 2021, please write about it in the comments to this article.

Сообщение Georgia: TOP-10 events of the produce business in 2021 появились сначала на EastFruit.

During the audit of the fruit and vegetable departments of supermarkets in five countries of the region, EastFruit experts analyze, in addition to the range and quality of vegetables and fruits, the levels of their retail prices in stores in Kyiv, Chisinau, Tbilisi, Dushanbe and Tashkent. For the second year now, we have included previously exotic, but rapidly gaining popularity, kiwi and avocado, to the studied fruits.

In November 2021, kiwi prices were the lowest in stores in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. This is not surprising, since Georgia continues to increase production and exports of kiwi, taking advantage of its climatic conditions. Georgian kiwi is exported to Japan and Germany and is considered one of the sweetest in Europe (see video about kiwis in Georgia).

On average, kiwi costs only $1.38/kg in Tbilisi supermarkets. In Kyiv, where all the kiwis on the shelves are imported, the prices are 35% higher. In Chisinau they are 60% higher, and in Dushanbe you have to pay 2.5 times more for kiwi than in Tbilisi. At the same time, the conditions for growing kiwi in Tajikistan are not worse than in Georgia. For instance, in neighboring Uzbekistan, there are quite a few small kiwi producers, and maybe that’s why kiwi prices are much lower there than in Tajikistan. In Uzbekistan, you can now buy kiwi at retail at $2.14/kg average.

The most expensive avocado, by a huge margin, was found in Tashkent, although you can also try to grow it in Uzbekistan. As with kiwi, Georgian farmers are pioneering avocado cultivation in the region. The first commercial avocado farm has already been established there. It is obvious that all avocados on the shelves of Georgia are still imported, as their prices are relatively high – much higher than in Ukraine and Moldova and approximately at the same level as in Tajikistan.

By the way, avocado price analysis we published last year is available here. The most expensive avocado was in Uzbekistan then, too. The prices for avocados in Uzbekistan have since declined by about $2/kg. The prices in Tajikistan have fallen even more significantly – by $3/kg average.

The cheapest avocado this year was in Kyiv – the average price was only $4.56/kg and decreased by almost $2.5/kg over the year! But in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, the decline in the retail price of avocado was insignificant, which left it in third place in terms of prices, after the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Dnipro.

Learn more about the retail trade of vegetables and fruits, including the sales volumes of kiwi and avocado in supermarket chains during the first international Retail Forum on December 2, 2021 in Kyiv. Registration for participation in this event and in the conference “Fruits and Vegetables of Ukraine 2021. New Investment Opportunities” is available here.

Сообщение The cheapest kiwi is sold in Georgia, and the cheapest avocado in Ukraine появились сначала на EastFruit.

The harvesting season for Hayward kiwi in the regions of Western Georgia is at its peak. Growers tell EastFruit about average yields, stable local prices and higher export prices. In general, the weather did not have a serious negative impact on the 2021 harvest, but intense rains in late summer and early autumn did not significantly affect size of fruits, as was the case with mandarins this season.

According to Demur Pipia, head of the Georgian Kiwi Producers Association, it is expected to harvest a total of 90-100 tonnes of kiwi, which is an average yield. The association sells its harvest to Nergeta, the largest kiwi producer and exporter in Georgia. Nergeta has its requirements: it buys only large-caliber fruits from farmers (at least 94 grams). The rest of the association’s harvest is sold on the local market.

Nergeta has raised farm prices for kiwi from GEL 3.8/kg ($1.15) last season to GEL 4.5/kg ($1.43) today. Despite the higher prices, farmers do not see much improvement in this, as the real prices of various products in the country have risen significantly. In addition, high-quality kiwis make up only 30-40% of the total harvest. The price of smaller fruits in the local market is around GEL 2/kg ($0.63), which, according to farmers, is unchanged from several previous seasons.

Farmers note that local prices are influenced by imports, mainly from Iran. Georgia exports kiwi to Japan and Germany in small volumes, while importing it all year round – most of the imports are from November to April. In the 2020-2021 season (November-April), imports amounted to 1,183 tonnes, while the local harvest in 2020 was estimated at 1,500 tonnes. The data shows that imports are getting cheaper every year. In October 2021, Georgia imported 97 tonnes of kiwis at $390 per tonne (CIF), which is 15% cheaper than the price in October 2018 – $460 per tonne (CIF).

Сообщение Kiwi season in Georgia: high-quality kiwi makes up only around 40% of the harvest появились сначала на EastFruit.

According to EastFruit analysts, Iran exported a record volume of fruits and nuts worth $196 million to Russia in the first three quarters of 2021. The exports of Iranian fruits to the Russian Federation in value terms increased by 1.5 times in the first nine months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.

“The growth in the supply of fruits and nuts from Iran to Russia is one of the reasons for the difficulties fruit suppliers from Moldova and Uzbekistan began to experience in the Russian market last year. Iran can offer a wide range of fruits and supplies them almost all year round, which distinguishes this country from its competitors. Also, Iranian suppliers are active in promoting their fruits, while exporters from Moldova, for example, rarely resort to advertising their products. In particular, in the largest fruit and vegetable trading group EF Trade Platform in Telegram, Iran is often among the five most active countries, and Moldova is usually not even in the top 10,” says Andriy Yarmak, Economist at the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Apples are a key item of Iranian exports to Russia. In the first 9 months of 2021, Iran increased their exports to Russia 2.5 times to 125 thousand tons. They are followed by kiwi, of which more than 37 thousand tons were exported from Iran to Russia during this period, watermelons (27.4 thousand tons), peaches and nectarines (26.6 thousand tons), raisins (12.2 thousand tons), dates (7.4 thousand tons), cherries (7.3 thousand tons), pistachio (7.1 thousand tons), sour cherries (6.8 thousand tons), table grapes (4.1 thousand tons) and plums (3.4 thousand tons). Experts note that these volumes may be underestimated, since some of the fruits are exported from Iran to Russia through third countries.

Almost all Iranian fruits exported to Russia saw a sharp increase in 2021. Only peach, cherry, plum and table grape supplies decreased. Obviously, the spring frosts that ruined part of stone fruits harvest in Uzbekistan, also affected their harvest in Iran. But the sharpest growth rates of exports to Russia were noted in the segment of Iranian kiwis, the supply of which increased 2.7 times in volume. Also, the export of Iranian raisins has more than doubled.

Thus, after 9 months of 2021, Russia is third among the most important markets for fruit and nuts for Iran. The first, with a wide margin from others, is Iraq, where fruits and nuts worth $370 million were exported. India is the second most important fruit market for Iran.

Other countries in our region are also among the important sales markets for Iranian fruits. Kazakhstan became 10^th among the largest importers of Iranian fruits and nuts, Kyrgyzstan – 11^th, and Ukraine – 13^th. Uzbekistan, which is still 18^th in this list, was notable for the highest growth rates of purchases from Iran – in 2021, exports to this country increased 11 times!

Сообщение Iran increased fruit exports to Russia by 50% in 2021 with apples and kiwi being main export items появились сначала на EastFruit.

Offers of kiwi seedlings, an exotic fruit for Uzbekistan so far, have become increasingly common in Uzbek Telegram channels and Facebook groups on farming. However, it is still unknown whether there are kiwi orchards at commercial levels in the country.

EastFruit experts asked one of the most experienced kiwi growers, Shukhrat Umarov from Kokand, Fergana region, about his practice of kiwi cultivation in Uzbekistan. Mr. Umarov has been growing kiwi for 15 years and willingly shares the peculiarities of its cultivation technologies in Uzbek climate. Shukhrat Umarov grows kiwi in the open field and considers this culture to be winter-hardy enough for the local conditions.

– Please tell us why did you decide to experiment with growing kiwi in Uzbekistan?

– I like to experiment with cultures that are new to our climate and and territory. In 2006, I heard that a growers from Andijan brought a few kiwi seedlings from Turkey. It interested me, but, unfortunately, I didn’t have enough money to buy them. Then I learned that kiwi can be grown from seeds. I bought a Hayward kiwi in a store, took the seeds, planted them in a special soil and began to grow kiwi seedlings. After a year, the seedlings reached about 40 cm and I put them into regular soil outside. In the next 5 years, three out of ten seedlings blossomed, but only one of these three bore fruit.

Observing the differences in flowers and the fruiting process, I realized that kiwi seedlings are of two types – male and female. Accordingly, the male type is pollinating, it blooms, but does not bear fruit, and only the female type bears fruit. They even differ in the color of the flowers.

In the photo: female (left) and male (right) types of kiwi plant

I studied and mastered the methods of grafting kiwi seedlings, the optimal ratio of male and female types, the best time of the year for grafting, the peculiarities of caring for this plant, including watering, fertilizing, pruning, etc.

As a result, in 2018, I got about 50 kg of kiwi harvest from each plant for the first time. By my calculations, about 40 tons of kiwis are harvested per hectare, since there are about 800 plants per hectare.

It must be noted that kiwi harvest will increase with each subsequent year from the moment the plant begins to bear fruit. For example, in the first year of fruiting, 5-10 kg per plant are harvested, in the second year – 20-30 kg, and so on up to 50-60 kg.

– Are there any taste differences between your kiwis and imported ones?

– Of course, there are. Kiwis grown in Uzbekistan differ from imported ones in a sweeter and, in my opinion, richer taste. It is difficult for me to describe the taste – you need to try it.

– What are the features of growing kiwi in Uzbekistan based on your experience?

– For this plant, the following conditions should be provided: first, moist and soft soi, and second, maintaining the required level of humidity. In the hot and dry climate of Uzbekistan, it can be provided with drip irrigation or in another ways, but not abundant. The humidity can be achieved by injecting water using sprinkler systems at certain times of the day. Based on my experience, in the conditions of Uzbekistan such sprinkling or spraying of the kiwi plant should be done from May to September inclusive, every day for several hours a day, and even after sunset in summer.

If air humidity is not sufficient, the fruits are smaller than imported ones. In other words, it affects the size of kiwis.

Therefore, there are better conditions for the cultivation of kiwi in Uzbek regions and micro-zones with higher humidity, as well as the air temperature lower than the national average.

In terms of care, the kiwi plant is not very pretentious. Kiwi is resistant to diseases and does not require special protection measures against diseases or pests. Therefore, much less agrotechnical work is needed compared to other crops. As for fertilizers, I can say that the use of, for instance, vermicompost gives very good results.

It is important to know and observe the optimal time for grafting kiwi seedlings in Uzbekistan, to master the methods and techniques of pruning. The yield of kiwi directly is directly dependente. For example, the branches that bore fruit this year will not bear fruit next year, so they need to be pruned.

Hayward kiwi harvest fully ripens in the first ten days of November, but for long-term storage and transportation, you need to start harvesting from about October 25th.

– What about frost resistance and the effect of frost on the crop, which occurs every few years?

– The seedlings I have grown during 15 years have withstood all the winters and colds. In 2008, there was a very cold winter in Uzbekistan. My seedlings were only two years old then, and I thought it was the time my experiments with kiwi ended. To my surprise, in spring I saw that the seedlings survived.

The frosts in late February and mid-March 2021 certainly affected the kiwi harvest. This year, the yield dropped to 25-30 kg per plant – almost 2 times lower than usual. But I still got kiwi harvest from every female plant.

– Do you plan to create industrial kiwi orchard in Uzbekistan?

– I am often asked this question, but I am mainly focused on other crops, and I do not have the land for such orchards. Growing kiwi is my hobby, caused by the desire to cultivate this plant in the conditions of Uzbekistan and see how it turns out.

As a commercial component of my hobby, I established a small business for growing and selling kiwi seedlings, accompanying and advising on its cultivation.

– How do you assess the interest of farmers in kiwi seedlings? Have there been any large orders?

– I did not have large orders for kiwi seedlings. The volume of orders is from a few to twenty seedlings, they are bought mainly for planting in subsidiary or personal plots. Accordingly, this kiwi harvest goes for personal consumption and almost does not enter the market.

According to EastFruit analysts, from 2017 to 2019, the volume of kiwi imports to Uzbekistan increased from 1.2 thousand tons to a record 4.1 thousand tons per year, and in 2020 decreased to 2.1 thousand tons. More than half was supplied from Iran, and the rest from Pakistan and Turkey. Small volumes of kiwi – up to 70 tons per year, are also imported from Chile, China and Russia (re-export). In 2021, Argentina joined the list of kiwi suppliers.

Currently, the average retail price for kiwi in supermarkets in Uzbekistan is 55,000 UZS/kg ($5.1/kg).

Obviously, the cost of growing kiwis in Uzbekistan will be lower than in the largest countries supplying them to the global market due to lower labor costs. Providing high humidity in the farm with sprinklers will also help protect kiwi from frost if necessary, since the sprinklers are the most effective protection system today when the temperature drops below zero in spring.

Given high prices in the domestic market, the commercial cultivation of kiwi in Uzbekistan can be profitable, EastFruit experts conclude. Moreover, thanks to the possibility to harvest kiwis riper, they can be sold more expensive than imported ones, as they will be more delicious. And if the locals try really tasty kiwi and tell their friends, the consumption of these fruits in the country can rise sharply, creating new opportunities for investment in production. Then exports can be considered. For instance, in neighboring Tajikistan, the popularity of kiwi is growing rapidly and it has already become a must-have of the New Year’s table.

Сообщение Growing kiwi in Uzbekistan – grower’s experience появились сначала на EastFruit.

Kiwi is one of the trendiest positions in global fruit and vegetable trade, and its consumption is growing rapidly. According to a study by EastFruit, over the past 5 years (2015-2019), global kiwi trade has grown by 7% or $ 217.9 million per year. Thus, in terms of the growth of global trade in fruits and berries, kiwi came after blueberries, avocado, cherries, raspberries, durian and mango.

Our region is in a global trend and is interested in growing kiwi. Moreover, there are countries that are already exporting kiwi and producing exotic fruits that are unique in their properties, which are in demand even in the pickiest countries!

As the title says, we will talk about Georgia and Georgian kiwi. Georgia is the only country in the region where kiwi is produced in relatively large volumes commercially. The first kiwi plantations also appear in Uzbekistan and even in the relatively cold Ukraine.

Georgia has recently started to produce kiwi, but it has more than 10 years of experience in cultivating this crop. According to Geostat’s data, over the past 5 years, kiwi production has grown by 50% and reached 1.5 thousand tons. Three regions of Western Georgia – Samegrelo, Guria and Adjara, have the best climatic conditions for growing kiwi. However, due to climate change, kiwi has also been planted even in the eastern part of the country and in such a traditional wine-growing region as Kakheti. Why not – kiwi has a lot in common with grapes. For example, like grapes, kiwi is grown on a pergola. Many people make beautiful green gazebos from kiwi vines right next to the house.

Kiwi in Georgia is mainly produced by small farmers on small areas – on average, each producer has less than one hectare of land. Georgian kiwi producers sell their harvest of at the local market, where both consumers and intermediaries buy it.

The main problem of small-scale kiwi producers in Georgia is the lack of funds to expand production and install cold storage. Indeed, during their ripening period, their supply on the market rises sharply, and their prices drop, respectively.

Small farmers also complain that kiwi production, unlike other fruits and berries, is not eligible for government support programs. In particular, the inclusion of kiwi in the “Plant the Future” state program would significantly increase funding for the development of this very promising culture. After all, Georgia, as we will prove below, can grow kiwi of unique quality.

Another problem with Georgian kiwi is the extremely low prices for fresh kiwi imported from Iran. The price of Iranian kiwi at the Georgian border decreased from $ 0.60 per kg in 2018 to $ 0.40 per kg in 2020, and the import of kiwi from Iran in 2020 exceeded one thousand tons – 85% of all kiwi imports to Georgia. Therefore, given the possibilities of growing other relatively expensive crops, such as blueberries or hazelnuts, in the same climatic zones, there are cases when producers change their profile, refusing to grow kiwi.

Agronomist Akaki Glonti, who advises kiwi producers in Georgia, notes that growing kiwi is not difficult. The only problem that local producers have already addressed is the spring frosts. But hanging sprinklers, which also water the plant, eliminate the risk of flower loss due to frost.

A more serious problem is the recently widespread decay of the roots and vines of the kiwi. Farmers note that rotting is more common in biological (organic) farms when kiwi is fertilized with manure. When using mineral fertilizers, this problem occurs much less frequently. This issue requires detailed study, and the request has already been sent to the competent authorities to conduct laboratory studies and identify the causes and ways to combat them.

In 2018, several Georgian kiwi growers united into the Georgian Kiwi Producers Association, which today includes 114 farmers from all over the country. These farmers have a total of about 70 hectares of kiwi orchards. According to the head of the association, Demur Pipia, Georgian kiwi, due to its taste and high sugar content, has great potential on international markets. However, in order for Georgia to be able to produce a sufficient amount of quality kiwi, farmers must have the necessary knowledge about modern technologies for growing, storing and processing kiwi. “Until the last decade, farmers were not interested in commercial production of kiwi in Georgia, so they do not have enough knowledge and experience to produce high-quality products,” Demur said.

Today, members of the association sell part of their harvest in local agricultural markets, and part of them is bought by Nergeta, which grades and brands kiwi for local retail. Nergeta is one of the largest kiwi growers in Georgia, which owns about 30 hectares of kiwi orchards in the Samegrelo region (Western Georgia). This allows the company to guarantee volumes and quality in export markets – in the EU, where Georgian kiwi was introduced in the German Lidl chain and even in Japan.

Moreover, Japan is the main sales market for Georgian kiwi – since 2016, about 70% of Georgian kiwi exports went to Japan, which confirms unique qualities of Georgian kiwis. After all, Japan is a country with the highest quality and safety requirements for products supplied to its market. In addition, Japanese consumers are willing to pay high prices for fruits with unique qualities. At the same time, Japan is the second largest world importer of kiwi, so Georgian exporters have set export priorities right as well. In the traditional sales market for Georgian fruits, Russia, the import of kiwi is decreasing, contrary to global trends.

Demur Pipia considers partnership with “Nergeta” company to be one of the important factors for the development of the Georgian plant breeding sector. The partnership involves not only selling the fruit, but also training local kiwi producers to improve the quality of their products.

In March 2021, the average small wholesale price of kiwi in the Tbilisi wholesale market was 4 GEL per kg ($ 1.33 per kg), as in 2020. Kiwis could be bought from the farmer at 2 GEL per kg ($ 0.65).

It is also important to note that interest in kiwi is growing not only among producers, but also among consumers in the region. This means that the local market for kiwi is becoming attractive.

We have already written that even Tajikistan liked kiwi. As you can see in the graph, Armenia, is also increasing its import of kiwi. According to EastFruit’s estimates, Ukraine is increasing kiwi imports more slowly than Uzbekistan, but the volumes are much higher. Ukraine imports over 17 thousand tons of kiwi annually. The import of kiwi to Uzbekistan is also rapidly growing – according to this indicator, the country is a world leader, although the volumes are very small there.

Thus, Georgia has every opportunity to develop the production and export of exotic kiwi fruits, which are becoming more common on the tables of consumers in our region.

EastFruit ‘s video on what makes Georgian kiwi unique.

Сообщение Why is kiwi from Georgia exported mainly to Japan and Germany? (video) появились сначала на EastFruit.

Since November 2020, the EastFruit team has decided for the first time to pay attention during our retail audits to two world bestsellers in recent years – kiwis and avocados. According to experts, avocados have already surpassed oranges in terms of world trade volume and occupy a high seventh place in the ranking of the most popular vegetables and fruits in international trade.

Avocados now account for about 3% of the world fruit and vegetable trade, and their exports are growing annually faster than any other fruit, berry, vegetable, or nut products at an average of $783 million per year, which is 12% every year! The annual volume of world trade in kiwis is also growing very quickly at 7% per year (for fresh berries) or by $200 million per year!

Despite the fact that kiwis and avocados are not yet as popular in Central Asia as in Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, their popularity in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan continues to grow.

In Tajikistan, kiwis are more of a table decoration than fruit for daily consumption. A detailed analysis of the kiwi market in Tajikistan can be found here.

During the audit of retail chains in Tajikistan in March 2021, we saw that kiwis were in nearly all stores in Dushanbe and Khujand. Avocados were sold in at least four supermarket chains in the city of Khujand (Amid, Oasis, and Anis chains). However, avocados were completely absent in supermarkets in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan.

Read also: Amid and Paikar are leaders in the EastFruit rating in Tajikistan based on the audit of fruit and vegetable departments in March 2021

In previous articles, we point out that not all buyers know and have ever tasted avocados. This fruit is sold per piece; prices are set for 1 fruit. In terms of 1 kg, avocados are sold at prices ranging from $9.00 to $11.50 per kg!

Avocado prices have dropped compared to November prices. The colour of avocados sold on supermarket shelves in Tajikistan ranged from dark green to brown. There were also dark-speckled green fruits.

Kiwi prices in Khujand and Dushanbe were approximately the same and this fruit was much more affordable for the consumer. The average retail price for kiwis in Dushanbe supermarkets was $2.34 per kg, while in Khujand supermarkets this fruit cost an average of $2.38 per kg.

Сообщение In Tajikistan, avocados and kiwis are in supermarkets in Khujand, no avocados in Dushanbe появились сначала на EastFruit.

Georgian company Aromaproduct exported kiwis to Japan according to the state agency Produce in Georgia. Exports were carried out with the support of this agency as well as the Georgian Embassy in Japan.

The group Aromproduct LTD and Georgia’s Natural has been operating since 1985. Since 1994, Aromaproduct underwent extensive restructuring and modernization to become an international distributor of high-quality natural fruit and vegetable products. The company produces natural juices as well as various canned fruits and vegetables.

Since 2006, Georgia’s Natural/Aromaproduct has begun to develop organic production by growing organic vegetables and fruits (or collecting wild-grown) and then processing for finished products. The company’s products are exported to several dozen countries around the world. Aromaproduct was one of 14 Georgian companies that recently took part in GulFood 2021, the international food, beverage and industry exhibition held in Dubai this February.

Read also: Georgian company to resume supplies of wild-grown organic asparagus in spring

The Produce in Georgia agency notes one of the issues to be discussed during the planned visit of the Japanese delegation to Georgia will be the issue of increasing the exports of Georgian products to this country.

The trade turnover between Japan and Georgia amounted to $255 million in 2018, it was $269.6 million in 2019, and $176 million in 2020. The share of Georgian exports in the total volume of trade turnover between the countries is small, but in 2018-2020 exports were growing at $11.4 million, $12.3 million and $16.8 million respectively.

Сообщение Georgian company Aromaproduct exported kiwis to Japan появились сначала на EastFruit.