The Kazakh apple variety “Aport,” renowned for its exceptional aroma and impressive size, is set to make a comeback thanks to a new revival program presented by the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Center (NASEC). The initiative aims to restore Aport apples to supermarket shelves and eventually expand their export potential.
Aport apples, known for their sweet taste and weight of up to half a kilo, thrive in specific conditions. They require orchards located at altitudes between 850 and 1,250 meters, a rarity in the Almaty foothills. Unlike other apple varieties that start producing fruit within 4 to 6 years, Aport trees take longer to bear fruit, needing 8 to 9 years of careful cultivation.
Despite these challenges, the Aport apple remains a favorite among Kazakh consumers and has gained admiration from international markets. The revival program, spanning from 2024 to 2028, aims to address the growing demand for this unique fruit.
Under the revival program, the Ministry of Agriculture and NASEC will lead efforts with support from the Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing. The initiative encourages participation from private investors and specialized nursery farms.
Key milestones in the program include:
- 2024: Collection of Sivers apple tree seeds and the establishment of national standards for Aport cultivation.
- 2025: Planting of seedlings over 10 hectares at the Talgar regional branch of the Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing, which will serve as a mother-cutting garden for nurseries.
- 2026-2027: Scaling up to cultivate sufficient seedlings for a 100-hectare orchard.
The program also aims to boost private gardening initiatives for Aport production, leveraging the existing historical and selection base for this apple variety.
Sagi Sultanbekov from the Talgar regional branch of the Kazakh Research Institute highlighted the groundwork laid for the revival of Aport, stating that research efforts have been ongoing since 2011. Currently, over 1,000 varieties of Sivers apple trees have been analyzed, with 11 varieties selected for producing the Aport Bloody-Red variant. The experimental garden established in 2015 began yielding fruits in 2023, with individual apples weighing between 300 to 500 grams.
In a recent meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin endorsed the revival program, emphasizing the need to promote this unique Kazakh apple variety. He also called for the involvement of agricultural university students in the program’s implementation, aiming to foster a new generation of agricultural experts dedicated to the revival of Aport.
