ADVANCING AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES: SUGAR BEET FIELD DAY HELD IN CHUY REGION
On August 14, 2026, a specialized Field Day dedicated to modern sugar beet cultivation technologies and effective crop protection systems against diseases and pests took place on demonstration fields in the Zhayyl and Sokuluk districts of the Chuy region. Organized as part of the “Sugar Beet” Value Chain (VC) initiative, the event gathered 40 participants, including 31 local sugar beet farmers (77.5% of total attendees), leadership from the Zhayyl District Department of Agricultural Development, representatives from the “Kayindy-Kant” processing plant.
Practical sessions and crop inspections were conducted on the field of farmer Nooruzbek Kozhomkulov in Aral village and on the demonstration plot of farmer Makhmat Matraimov in Nizhnee-Chuyskoye village. During the field assessment, an expert agronomist presented a detailed overview of key diseases—such as cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew—and major pests, including the stem weevil, offering farmers precise guidelines on treatment schedules and crop protection products to mitigate yield losses. Experts placed particular emphasis on crop rotation, noting that planting sugar beets in the same fields for 2–3 consecutive years is the primary cause of disease outbreaks in the area; conversely, N. Kozhomkulov’s field, where corn served as the preceding crop, demonstrated excellent phytosanitary health.
In addition to agronomic practices, attendees thoroughly discussed the operational and economic aspects of the upcoming 2026 harvesting campaign. Representatives from “Kayindy-Kant” presented the planned schedule for raw material reception, while a agricultural finance expert explained the process for purchasing inputs through the “Murabaha” Islamic financing mechanism. At the same time, farmers expressed deep concern over rising diesel fuel prices, which significantly increase crop transportation costs to collection points and the processing plant. Growers highlighted that without a proportional adjustment of factory purchasing prices to reflect fuel inflation, there is a critical risk of reduced sugar beet acreage in 2027 as farms potentially shift to alternative crops such as corn.