In recent years, Shymkent has increasingly been referred to as the agricultural hub of southern Kazakhstan. While just ten years ago, greenhouse farms here were primarily small family farms, today the situation has changed dramatically: industrial greenhouses, designed to cover tens and hundreds of hectares, are being actively built in the city and its surrounding areas. And this sector is attracting increased interest from both domestic entrepreneurs and foreign investors.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Veterinary Services, there are approximately fifty greenhouses operating in the Shymkent metropolitan area, nineteen of which are large industrial complexes. This year's total vegetable harvest amounted to 81,000 tons, with tomatoes accounting for a significant portion of that. At the city's grocery stores, a kilogram of fresh Shymkent tomatoes can be purchased for as little as 200 tenge during the peak season, making locally grown tomatoes a distinct advantage over imported alternatives.

However, current achievements are just the beginning. The Turkish company Alarko Holding intends to implement the largest project in this sector. The investor plans to build a 650-hectare greenhouse complex, designed to produce 155,000 tons of tomatoes annually. The produce will be sold not only to the domestic market but also for export, marking a new stage in the development of Kazakhstan's entire agricultural sector. Initially, the facility will create approximately 2,000 jobs, and once it reaches full capacity, it will employ 5,000 people. Particular attention is also being paid to training: the project includes the opening of an agricultural academy where specialists will be trained according to international standards.

An equally interesting project is being presented by the construction company Sine Midas Stroy, together with its Polish partner Fabe Agro . The total investment volume will be $120 million. Plans include establishing a greenhouse with a capacity of 36,000 tons of tomatoes per year. Negotiations on this matter were chaired by Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov, who emphasized Kazakhstan's keen interest in attracting high-tech projects capable of not only saturating the domestic market but also promoting the products to the international market.

Comparing current initiatives with previous years, the difference is clear. In the 2010s, greenhouses in Shymkent were mostly small operations of a few hectares, focused on local markets. Back then, production volumes were limited, and exports weren't even considered a priority. Today, however, we're talking hundreds of hectares, tens of thousands of tons of produce, and a strategic focus on external supplies. This scale was made possible by comprehensive government support and interest from foreign companies.

A key feature of the new projects is the use of advanced technologies. The greenhouses will feature automatic climate control systems, energy-efficient solutions, and drip irrigation methods. All of this will significantly reduce water and energy consumption, increase yields, and improve product quality. For Shymkent, where water conservation has always been a pressing issue, this is of fundamental importance.

Furthermore, the new greenhouse complexes have a significant social impact. The creation of thousands of jobs helps reduce unemployment and improve living standards in the region. Young people have the opportunity to learn modern agricultural technologies and put their knowledge to good use. Thus, the agricultural sector is becoming a driver of not only the city's economic but also social development.

The export potential is particularly noteworthy. Kazakhstan has traditionally imported significant volumes of tomatoes from neighboring countries, primarily Uzbekistan. However, the launch of large greenhouses in Shymkent will not only fully satisfy domestic demand but also secure a significant foothold in foreign markets. Many investors are already considering the southern metropolis a strategic location for supplying vegetable products to Central Asia and the CIS countries.

Similar initiatives have been undertaken in the past, but they weren't on such a large scale. For example, about ten years ago, projects emerged in Shymkent to build greenhouses covering 20-30 hectares, which were considered large at the time. However, compared to today's complexes, their production capacity was minimal. Today, the situation has changed: investments amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, and production plans are in the hundreds of thousands of tons.

Thus, Shymkent's greenhouse industry is experiencing a real boom. In the coming years, the region has the potential to become a vegetable-growing hub with high export potential. This will contribute to strengthening the country's food security, developing the agricultural sector, and shaping Kazakhstan's positive image as a reliable supplier of high-quality produce.

Shymkent tomatoes, grown on an industrial scale, will be able to compete with imported vegetables not only in price but also in quality. New projects focused on advanced technologies and sustainable development will lay a solid foundation for future growth in the agricultural sector.

This is why we can confidently say that current investments in greenhouses are not just local initiatives, but a strategic step that will determine the development of Kazakhstan's agriculture for many years to come.