Kazakhstan to launch virus-free seed potato production with up to $10 mln in investmentKazakhstan will establish its first full-cycle virus-free seed potato production, with investment of up to $10 million, in partnership with South Korea's Vitrosys Agricultural Incorporation, the Agriculture Ministry said.The Kazakh partner in the project is the Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing. The production cycle will cover all stages, from laboratory diagnostics of virus-free planting material to the production of minitubers and high-reproduction seed potatoes."Total investment will reach up to $10 million, covering the supply of modern equipment, technology transfer and production infrastructure development. The South Korean side will provide technology for rapid mass propagation of virus-free plants in vitro, as well as rehabilitation and minituber production technologies," the ministry said.Under the roadmap, the facility plans to produce 200,000 virus-free in vitro plants and about 1.2 million potato minitubers in 2027. Seed potato output in the G1 category is expected to reach about 1,200 tonnes in 2028, 1,500 tonnes in 2029 and about 3,900 tonnes annually by 2030.Kazakhstan's annual demand for quality seed potatoes is 450,000 to 480,000 tonnes, including 1,600 to 1,900 tonnes of original seeds and 11,000 to 12,000 tonnes of elite seeds, the ministry said. Once the facility reaches full capacity, it is expected to cover virtually all domestic demand for high-quality seed potatoes. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX