ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, November 30. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have provided support and granted incentives to a Turkmen strawberry production firm operating under the 'Tudana' brand, Trend reports.
According to the EBRD, 'Tudana' obtained an EBRD loan and an EU grant in 2020, allowing it to extend its production area by 1.5 hectares and gather experience and advice.
International consultants worked with the company as part of this program to upgrade the greenhouse irrigation system and encourage sustainable water use practices.
They also did a complete investigation of water availability, meteorological variables, and light conditions in order to recommend appropriate adjustments in fertilizer composition.
Because of these adjustments, the company was able to nearly quadruple its strawberry production, from 56 to 100 tons per year, minimize pesticide consumption by 95 percent, and deploy more effective pest management measures.
Furthermore, compared to growing in the open ground, the company's greenhouses now require 20 times less water to produce 1 kilogram of strawberries.
Meanwhile, 'Tudana,' Turkmenistan's biggest strawberry producer, supplies its products to over 300 retail outlets across the country and is actively growing its market by exporting strawberries to neighboring countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
