This year, Kazakhstan begins planting new orchards of aport apple trees in the Almaty region, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced.
Aport is the legendary Kazakh apple variety, distinguished by its large size, distinct smell, and succulent nature.
The new orchards are part of a national program to revive aport, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Center (NASEC).
Between 2025 and 2028, 25,000 aport saplings will be planted on 110 hectares around Almaty.
The first harvest from the new orchards is expected in eight years. NASEC scientists believe that with modern agricultural technologies the yield can reach an impressive 57.7 kg per tree in the early stages of fruiting and up to 100 kg per adult tree.
Aport is distinguished not only by its taste, but also by its excellent storage qualities and transportability. When properly stored, aport apples retain their qualities until March, and modern technologies can extend this period until June.
The successful revival of aport will open up new opportunities for the development of farms and attract investment in the Kazakh agricultural sector.
Aport is a capricious variety that requires special cultivation conditions. Quality apples can only be produced in orchards growing 850-1,250 meters above sea level. There are few such areas in the foothills of Almaty and the nearby region. Unlike other apple varieties, which begin to bear fruit in 4-6 years, aport needs 8-9 years to give a first harvest.
In 1970, there were 3.8 million aport trees in Kazakhstan, but by 1984, only 1.4 million remained. In 2012, scientific research began on the revival and rejuvenation of the variety, including establishing an experimental garden of aport grafted onto Sievers apple trees. In 2023, Kazakh scholars harvested the first large fruits weighing 400-500 g.
Kazakhstan is the birthplace of apples — particularly the famous aport apples, which grow in the Almaty region. Translated from Kazakh, Almaty means “place of abundance of apples.”
Photo: gov.kz
