Growing together: Integrating farmers into value chains with sustainable finance

Growing together: Integrating farmers into value chains with sustainable finance
HomeNewsField Day on “CONVISO SMART” Technology Held in Chuy Region

Field Day on “CONVISO SMART” Technology Held in Chuy Region

On September 10, 2025, the TES Center, in partnership with KWS and the processing plant “Koshoi”, organized a Field Day in the village of Natsionalnoe, Sokuluk district. The event was held within the framework of the “Value Chain Agro Finance”: Sugar Beet  project and brought together 55 participants — beneficiary farmers from Jayyl, Moskovsky, and Sokuluk districts, as well as interested farmers from other areas of Chui region.

The main goal of the event was to present the results of implementing the innovative CONVISO SMART technology in Kyrgyzstan. The Field Day was moderated by the project’s chief agronomist, Mirgasym Allahveranov.

Key sessions of the Field Day

  • Presentation of KWS hybrids. KWS expert Mirlan Akmatov introduced promising SMART sugar beet hybrids grown on the demonstration plot and highlighted their characteristics.

  • Agrotechnology of sugar beet cultivation. Chief agronomist Allahveranov M. discussed the advantages of the CONVISO SMART system compared to traditional cultivation methods, emphasizing proper soil preparation, timely sowing, and effective crop protection.

  • Weed control solutions. Special guest from Russia, KWS expert Sergey Iosifov, provided detailed information on the use of CONVISO herbicide, including dosage schemes and application timing. He stressed the system’s strong performance against difficult weeds such as Chenopodium album and dodder, which are poorly controlled by traditional herbicides.

  • Practical recommendations. TES Center specialists shared advice on preventing and managing soil crust, which became a serious challenge for farmers during the 2025 season due to changing weather conditions.

  • Dialogue with processor. General Director of OJSC “Koshoi,” Alexander Barbalat, spoke about the plant’s future plans, challenges with sugar content levels, acceptance conditions, and current procurement prices.

Results

Farmers highly valued the effectiveness of the CONVISO SMART system and its long-term economic benefits. They were particularly impressed by the absence of dodder on the demonstration field — a weed that usually causes major problems after irrigation.

Farmers from Jayyl district proposed establishing a demonstration field with CONVISO® SMART technology in 2026 to further share experience with local growers. The TES Center welcomed this initiative and expressed readiness for joint work in the upcoming season.

At the end of the Field Day, participants received methodological recommendations for managing soil crust as well as informational brochures from KWS.