On August 19-20, the VIII International Scientific and Practical Seminar «Potato seed production: innovative technologies and new promising varieties» was held by «FAT-AGRO». Representatives of the authorities of the republic, as well as about 200 specialists of the agricultural industry from different regions of Russia attended this event.
"Every year, the best companies and leading specialists gather at the seminar to discuss new trends and share their experience. Seed production, as well as potato growing in general, is developing dynamically, our company helps to solve the problems of import substitution, food security in the country. The demand for the products of the company «FAT-AGRO» is growing annually. In 2015, we produced 450,000 mini-clubs, and this year - more than 2 million. To increase the volume of production, we increased the capacity of the greenhouse complex (to one and a half hectares), the capacity of the micropropagation laboratory, planting of original seed material in the highlands, where the country's first spatial isolation zone was created. We have agreed on mutually beneficial cooperation with farms, taking foreign practice. All these measures made it possible to increase the yield to 7 tons per year. We have had the idea of creating an association of seed potato producers for a long time, negotiations are underway with potential members of the association about this," said in his welcoming speech Zelimkhan Bitarov, CEO of the Group of Companies «Bavaria».
"Today our industry is facing a rather ambitious task of increasing potato production by at least 30 thousand hectares annually. One of the keys to achieving this goal will be seed production. «FAT-AGRO» is one of the leaders in the production of high-quality potato seed material, and according to my information, a lot of agricultural producers cannot wait to interact with this Ossetian company," welcomed the participants of the seminar Alexey Krasilnikov, Executive Director of the Potato Union.
Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Kazbek Vaziev said that no one believed in the idea of developing seed production in the republic. "I went to the enterprises and asked them to take the land, because no one was cultivating it. When «FAT-AGRO» started its activity, I did not believe in success myself. If such a company had appeared earlier, things would have gone better. Looking at «FAT-AGRO», people realized that it is possible to invest in agriculture. The company has been and remains the flagship of agriculture in the republic."
The director of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of, Alexander Malko also admitted that he did not believe in «FAT-AGRO». «For more than 10 years, the FSVPS has been working closely with «FAT-AGRO», at first no one believed in the success of this idea, neither did I. In those days, many people had a desire to do something, but few of them succeeded. In my opinion, the formula for the success of «FAT-AGRO» is as follows. First of all - cooperation with science. No one cooperates with Lorkh’s Federal Research Center closer than «FAT-AGRO». You are also well known in the Swiss «Agroscope». Wherever it was possible to take experience, you tried to adopt it. Secondly, you managed to find good personnel starting from managers and ending with those who work in the fields. Thirdly – investment. You have invested in high-tech production. The fourth is the competitive advantages of the republic. This is a number of natural areas where everything is implemented at the highest level. Every time I come to Ossetia, I see great dynamic, the company does not stand still. Every time the CEO talks about plans, these are not empty words, in the future it will all be achieved."
After the plenary session, the seminar participants visited the production base in the village of Gizel, and then went to the Alpina Family Park, where they discussed pressing issues of potato growing.
The most interesting part of the seminar for nonresident guests is a trip to the highlands. In the village of Verkhny Zgid at an altitude of 2500 meters «FAT-AGRO» organized the first spatial isolation zone in the country. About 20 varieties of mini-tubers grown in protected soil are planted here. "There is no pursuit of harvest here," explains to the guests Zaur Marzoev, director of LLC «FAT-AGRO», "…the main is quality. From 15 to 20 tons are harvested annually from 10 hectares, depending on the variety."
Due to the absence of phytopathogens at such a height, the seeds of the first field generation turn out healthy and resistant to potato diseases. Moreover, how beautiful the well-groomed potato fields look, like green scarves spread over the mountains. Of course, looking at all this splendor, the participants have lots of questions: how the soil is treated, how the equipment gets to such a height, whether there are sudden frosts and many others. After a long road to the mountains, and a walking to the fields, buyers of our seeds from other cities no longer consider the price of them too high. Having had lunch in the fresh air, the seminar participants moved on to reports and presentations.
So why do we need a seminar on potato seed production?
"When we held the first seminar, many people were skeptical about this idea. However, thanks to these events we are recognized throughout Russia. We have created our own brand, this is the only way to go forward. This is a necessity, something that must be done," says Zaur Marzoev.
