Production of agricultural products in an indoor environment.
Production of agricultural products in greenhouses.
The production of vegetables in the conservatory which is commonly known as greenhouses has a significant difference in the specifics of doing business, in contrast to the production of agricultural products in the open field. It uses special agricultural technologies, a drip irrigation system, and special seeds for growing in greenhouses. The greenhouse business is developing in almost all regions of the Republic of Tajikistan: in Sughd, in Khatlon, and Districts of Central Subordination.
Inrecent years, Tajik farmers have actively started to produce vegetables in greenhouse conditions. Farmers mainly grow tomatoes and cucumbers, which are the most profitable. In recent years, there has been an increase in the area of indoor cultivation, which is associated with an increase in investment in the greenhouse business.
Over the past few years, the prices of tomatoes produced in greenhouse conditions have tended to increase. Existing greenhouse farms can not fully meet the demand in the market. A significant part of the products is still imported from neighboring countries: Pakistan and Uzbekistan. The construction of new greenhouses will help to meet the existing and constantly growing demand for tomatoes, as well as create additional opportunities for farmers.
Existing practices in Tajikistan
In Tajikistan, farmers mainly use the following types of greenhouses: Trench greenhouses (Soviet lemonarium), Chinese (Tibetan) and Dutch greenhouses, depending on the region. The construction of greenhouses is considerably capital intensive and the cost depends on the area of the greenhouse and the technology used. For example, if to build a hothouse of the Dutch type (overground tunnels) with the area of 210 m² then investment expenses make about 34000 somoni, and if greenhouses of the same area (210 m²) “Trench” type or “Tibetan” type then investment expenses make about 50000 somoni.
The greenhouse harvest season in greenhouse conditions begins in November and continues through May. The business is profitable because of the high prices of tomatoes and cucumbers for this period of time.
A farmer/starter who plans to start a greenhouse vegetable business should keep the following costs in mind:
1. Construction of the greenhouse;
2. Annual repair and replacement of the film coating;
3. Replacement of the drip irrigation system every few years;
4. Purchase of seeds and seedlings;
5. Fertilizers;
6. Expenses for measures to protect against disease and pests;
7. Heating (if necessary);
8. Cultivation;
9. Maintenance of irrigation system;
10. Labor costs;
11. Transportation costs.
Market trends
Greenhouse production is sold on the domestic market through retailers, while export production is sold on foreign markets through wholesalers/exporters. High prices for tomatoes and cucumbers out of season create good profitability for farmers. Price analysis shows that out-of-season prices sometimes increase by 10-15 times compared to prices during the peak harvest season for open field vegetables. Below is a table of prices for cucumbers and tomatoes in the retail markets of Dushanbe city.
Opportunities for startups
Tajikistan has many advantages for organizing a greenhouse business, including geographic location, good soil, labor force, climatic conditions, and a dynamically growing market. Tajik agribusinessmen are able to compete and promote products in the foreign market, using the above-mentioned competitive advantages. The production and marketing of tomatoes to domestic and foreign markets has a huge potential for development.