Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/572389
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER OCTOBER 2015 29 K yrgyzstan is the poorest of the "-stan" countries of central Asia but is consid- ered a pivotal part of the world. It gained independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, along with four neighboring republics: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, but was left with little infrastructure. Lacking resources, such as equipment and irrigation, the Kyrgyz tree fruit industry fell into decline, though agriculture is a signif- icant part of the Kyrgyz economy, along with mining of gold and minerals. The country has one big dam to generate hydropower, but the greatest contribution to the economy is the money remitted by people who have left the country to work elsewhere. It's estimated that about 1.5 million of the Kyrgyz population of 5.5 million live out of the country, and there are concerns that they won't return. Washington fruit grower Randy Smith has visited the country three times in the past three years. During his most recent visit, with a group of seven people from north central Washington, he noticed that the condition of the orchards had continued to deteriorate overall. He also noticed that small mosques had recently been built in every town. The group was told it was an effort by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to blunt more radical forms of Islam, but U.S. offi cials there were concerned and watching the development closely, Smith said. Both Russia and the United States had air bases in Kyrgyzstan during the Afghan war. About six years ago, the Kyrgyzs asked the United States to shut down its air base, which it did last year. Russia is now providing the military sta- bility in Kyrgyzstan, whose own air force consists of one helicopter. Kyrgyzstan borders China to the south, and China is also expanding its sphere of infl uence in that country by building high- ways, including a four-lane freeway between Issyk-Kul and the capital city of Bishkek. Smith said it's rumored that China wants to build a highway or light rail system from Beijing to Europe via Kyrgyzstan and Istanbul—a modern version of the 2,000-year-old Silk Road—in order to facilitate travel and trade. If Kyrgyzstan redevelops its fruit production, having this infrastructure could help it become a real force in fruit production, Smith said. The U.S. Embassy arranged meetings, receptions, radio interviews, and pre- sentations for the Washington group while they were in Kyrgyzstan. Smith said he was "blown away" by the attention they received, but began to understand that they were being used as the poster child for the idea that Americans care for the Kyrgyzs. They went along with it, however, because it gave the group credibility and exposure. • Kyrgyzstan is poor but pivotal nation TAJIKISTAN UZBEKISTAN KAZAKHSTAN CHINA KAZAKHSTAN KYRGYZSTAN 100 miles Area of detail Lake Issyk-Kul Issyk-Kul state Bishkek JARED JOHNSON/GOOD FRUIT GROWER PAKISTAN AFGHANISTAN TURKMENISTAN World powers are focusing on the '-stans' of central Asia by Geraldine Warner Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are building mosques in Kyrgyzstan towns. For over 40 years, growers have been enjoying the fruits of our labor. At ProTree Nursery, experience has taught us to select the best varieties, graft only the highest quality rootstocks and grow hearty trees. As one of the leading suppliers of apple and cherry varieties to orchard growers, our customers have come to depend on our trees and our service. You can too, call us today. 10500 Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood, CA 94513 800.634.1671 or 925.634.2191 (Alison Clegg or Richard Chavez) 877.457.6901 (Henry Sanguinetti) Apples Aztec Fuji ® (DT-2 cv) Banning Red Fuji (USPP 16,624 P2) Blondee™ (USPP 19,007 McLaughlin cv) Buckeye ® Gala (USPP 10,840) Firestorm™ Honeycrisp Honeycrisp™ (USPP 7197) JonaStar JonaGold™ (USPP 20,590) Lady in Red * (USPP 18,787) September Wonder™ Fuji (USPP 11,193) Ultima™ Gala (USPP 13,753 P2) Available on B10 ® , B-118, EMLA, Geneva ® , M-9 T337, NIC -29™, or Pajam #2. ** * Trademark license for Pink Lady ® brand available upon request. Cherries Benton™ Bing Black Tart BlackPearl ® Brooks™ BurgundyPearl ® Chelan™ Coral Champagne Cristalina™ EbonyPearl ® Available on Colt, Gisela ® , Krymsk ® , Mahaleb, or Mazzard. * * ** Not all varieties are available on all rootstocks. Call for specific grafting information. M E M B E R O F w w w . p r o t r e e n u r s e r y. c o m Lapins RadiancePearl ® Rainier Selah™ Skeena™ Sweetheart™ Tamora Tulare™ Vans