HZPC i shërben tregut rus nëpërmjet një rruge alternative

There are opportunities in Russia for HZPC. The processing industry is growing and requires continuity in the supply and quality of potatoes. But quality is not yet high on the growers’ agenda.

Në Rusi, HZPC is pursuing an unconventional strategy to secure the seed potato trade for the future. A small-scale cultivation company was set up in 2019 to provide Russian contract growers with pre-basic seed potatoes, and in 2020 the production of mini tubers was added.

Choices prompted by Russia’s wish to be self-sufficient and to close the borders completely to the import of seed potatoes in the long term. Exports to Russia have been difficult since 2014 and seem like a finite story. The Russians are clearly phasing out the import of seed potatoes. But the country is still far from being able to achieve the same quality level as with European seed potatoes, HZPC raporte.

In addition, the potato processing industry sets high standards, which are insufficiently met locally. This means that imports are still allowed little by little, but above all that there is a need for knowledge building and the development of quality cultivation. In this, HZPC sees an opportunity to serve the Russian growth market via an alternative route.

Cilësia kundrejt vëllimit

A lot of potatoes are consumed in Russia. According to Pim Bemelmans, managing director of subsidiary HZPC Sadokas in St. Petersburg, the current demand fluctuates around 6 to 7 million tons. Moreover, the processing industry in Russia is growing and with it the demand for continuity in supply and quality.

‘There are opportunities for HZPC there,’ says Bemelmans. ‘Russian growers can achieve a higher and better yield if they focus on quality, but that theme is not high on the agenda yet. Because Russia is such a huge country, they think in volume here. There are still enough square meters. Farms are gigantic companies with a size of 2,000 to 3,000 hectares and a general manager who is far removed from cultivation. ‘

HZPC Sadokas has built up a fairly solid basis in Russia with a number of large contract growers, with whom the competitors also do business. ‘It is not easy to expand the number or to find smaller companies that want to focus more on quality,’ says Bemelmans. ‘In combination with the increasingly difficult import of starting material from the Netherlands and Finland, this led to the idea of ​​growing pre-basic seed potatoes ourselves. So that we are less dependent, but also to discover whether it is even possible to grow virus-free seed potatoes here. ‘

Presioni i virusit i lartë

Për shkak se rusët të gjithë kanë ndarjen e tyre ku ata rritin patate pa fund, presioni i virusit në këtë vend është shumë i lartë. 'Gjithmonë ka një ndarje të tillë në zonë që shqetëson bujqësinë. Atëherë do të ishte shumë e rrezikshme të transferohesh për kultivimin e patateve të farës para-themelore te kompanitë që përqendrohen në vëllim në vend të cilësisë. '

Lajm i mirë është se HZPC has succeeded in growing virus-free seed potatoes over the past two years, but not everything went smoothly. Another challenge is to find local Russians who are knowledgeable, practical and show initiative. ‘In addition, the low level of trust in Russia does not make it any easier. Everything has to be paid in advance, the control pressure is high and finding local partners is a major challenge, ‘says Bemelmans.

Një perspektivë tjetër

'It'sshtë çështje e dhënies dhe e marrjes', mendon Pim, i cili mori rolin e drejtorit menaxhues of HZPC Sadokas në 2019, dhe u zhvendos në Sint Petersburg. Ai është magjepsur nga Rusia që kur ishte adoleshent, por jo më shumë ose më pak nga kultura holandeze sesa Belgjika, për shembull, ku ai studioi. "Historia Sovjetike do të thotë se rusët kanë një perspektivë krejtësisht të ndryshme dhe kjo ndonjëherë mund të bie ndesh me pikëpamjet tona. Kjo është kombinuar me një ritëm të lartë ndryshimi që nga implementimi i planit ekonomik. Zhvillimet po lëvizin me shpejtësi, ndërsa struktura dhe koordinimi mund të mungojnë.

Rusët janë mjaft fleksibël dhe të aftë të ndërrojnë ingranazhet në mënyrë efikase, nga njëra anë. Nga ana tjetër, megjithatë, ekziston ende një burokraci e madhe që kërkon një kohë të madhe. Edhe në Sadokas, ka një theks të madh në llogaritjen dhe kalimin e kohës duke nënshkruar të gjithë dokumentacionin. "" Niveli i ulët i besimit në Rusi nuk i bën gjërat as më të lehta ", shton Pim. 'Gjithçka duhet të paguhet paraprakisht, ka shumë kontrolle dhe gjetja e partnerëve lokalë është një sfidë e madhe.

But this also presents an opportunity for HZPC as we are doing more than just trading. We are actively involved with our growers and the market and distinguish ourselves with a focus on quality in the production processes. We can use this to gain trust. We share our expertise and experience via webinars and podcasts and the fact that we are now a production farm helps too.We are clearly showing that we know how to farm in Russia, as a result of our own experiences. That was not the intention of this project and we are primarily a trading company but it is a positive side-effect from having the farm.’

Shikoni më shumë rreth:

• HZPC
• tregu i patates
• Rusi

lajme / kompani /