Field Monitoring of Sugar Beet Crops Conducted in Chuy Region

On August 15, 2025, the Value Chain Agro Finance project expert, Elvira Suvanova, together with specialists from the TES Center, carried out a field monitoring visit to sugar beet fields in Zhaiyl district of Chuy region, covering the villages of Ak-Bashat and Zheken.

During the visit, five fields were inspected and eight farmers were interviewed. Farmers reported that due to heavy rains in spring and the resulting soil crust, more than 80% of them were forced to re-sow sugar beet, in some cases two or even three times. Only two farmers managed to avoid re-sowing: one by planting early, and another by applying spray irrigation to break the soil crust, a method that has since attracted interest from others.

The monitoring revealed that while fields with dense germination showed minimal weed presence, sparse crops suffered from active weed growth, which poses risks to yields. No major outbreaks of pests or diseases were detected, though a localized spider mite infestation was successfully treated in time.

Many farmers expressed concerns that this year’s harvest may not cover production costs. Some switched to alternative crops such as corn and watermelons. For example, farmer El’diyar Kerimkulov, after an unsuccessful re-sowing on part of his land, planted watermelons on 2 hectares and earned around $20,000.

Based on the findings, experts recommended developing clear guidelines for re-sowing and alternative crops, improving early warning systems for farmers during abnormal weather conditions, supporting dialogue with the Kainda-Kant sugar factory regarding deferred seed payments, and strengthening pest monitoring. The project also plans to include new elements of climate stress management in its farmer training programs.