With the support of the state, as well as with the attraction of its own investments, the company has created a powerful agricultural cluster and continues to modernize production.
In the September Address to the people of Kazakhstan, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, outlined important directions for the further development of the agro-industrial complex, for the more efficient use of its potential. As the Head of State noted, agriculture is our main resource, but it is far from being fully utilized. Therefore, it is necessary to move away from the raw-material orientation of the export of agricultural products, which has reached 70%, while processing enterprises are loaded with only 40%.
The director of a large dairy company in the Aktobe region, Ice-Plus LLP, Kuanysh Ishanov, also speaks about the importance of high-quality development of the domestic agro-industrial complex, the solution of issues of product processing in a systematic and comprehensive manner.
“The head of state made a special emphasis on these areas and set a number of tasks for the Government to develop effective mechanisms to support the agricultural sector, which cannot but be encouraging,” our interlocutor said.
It is worth noting that the company is one of the active participants in various implemented state programs, on the basis of which very large projects in the agro-industrial complex are being successfully implemented. So, this year, within the framework of concessional lending, it has modernized the production of ice cream.
Since the launch of the new line, about 150 tons of sweet products have already been produced, with 6 new types. The inclusion of this area, topical for the region, in the "Economy of Simple Things" program was carried out with the assistance of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs. The total amount of the project was 1.2 billion tenge. About 200 million tenge - the company's own funds.
New equipment for cooking, lines of popsicle generators, Mercedes ice cream vans were purchased. Working on new equipment has significantly improved the quality of products and the range of products.
Since the equipment was purchased in Italy, the commissioning works were carried out by foreign specialists. With the launch of the new line, the company created additional jobs and employed 12 more people for permanent work. In the season, which falls between April and October, this number rises to 24 workers.
THREE CHINESE ENTERPRISES
Today, the once small workshop of the old milk plant has turned into a unique cluster.
“Our whole company is based on three whales,” says Kuanysh Amangalievich. - First, on the ideas and dedication of the chairman of the board of directors, Maral Sergazievich Itegulov. Secondly, thanks to the close-knit work of a team of professionals. And thirdly, thanks to the support from the state.
The director believes that the mission of the company is to contribute to the healthy lifestyle of our country through the development of production from natural products. One of the most important advantages is the desire to act in the interests of our customers, to meet and even anticipate their expectations. Today the dairy company is the only milk producer and processor in Western Kazakhstan with a closed production cycle.
How did it all begin? In the distant and difficult 1999, when the country's economy was in a deplorable state, few people wanted to invest in large production projects. And the founder of the enterprise decided to revive the dairy production. What a sin to conceal, the milk plant, which remained from the Soviet times, was completely plundered and required investment. Only Russian dairy products were sold in the city. The launch of production began with a simple one - with ice cream, hence the name "Ice". Over time, they began to equip the production with modern equipment. In 2005, the main building was repaired, a line for the production of baked and sterilized milk was launched in it. The line included the entire process: from the production of bottles to the filling of products. The next stage in the development of the plant was the launch of a fermented milk shop. Dairy products required the installation of refrigeration equipment. We needed a special transport to transport ice cream. In general, a lot of tasks had to be solved.
In order to provide residents of the city with fresh produce in 2011, the company started to install points of sale. And today there are already 35 branded retail outlets, which for the convenience of Aktobe residents are located in various districts of the city, and the products in them are always fresh!
COMPETITION MAKES DEVELOPMENT
In 2011, after the creation of the Customs Union, a lot of Russian and Belarusian dairy products appeared on the market, so local producers had to compete with them on equal terms.
Since 2015, the plant has begun another modernization. We entered into an agreement with a German company, which supplied a modern technological line from the acceptance of raw materials to the filling of finished products. She contributed to the introduction of full automation in all technological processes. This has stabilized product quality and increased productivity.
The enterprise began to produce yoghurts, curd cheeses and desserts. And this was the first big achievement. Today, the processes of modernization and increasing the assortment are ongoing, the company has its own distribution network in Aktobe, Atyrau, Mangistau regions. The LLP now provides its products to the entire Western Kazakhstan.
The company pays special attention to the qualifications of personnel. After all, it is impossible to work in the old fashioned way on European technology. We staked on youth. Employees were annually sent to study abroad - they underwent training in Germany and Italy. As a result, they received high qualifications. Now the company manufactures products in demand with a large assortment and high quality.
The main suppliers of raw materials for the enterprise are local peasant farms. To support the villagers, it buys milk from them and increases the volume of ice cream production. Since 2018, the company began to seriously engage in the development of this direction, and the local cold delicacy immediately became in great demand.
Previously, the plant had a low-performance filling line. She could not keep up with the growing demand. Therefore, a project was developed, and then a modern automated Italian line for packaging ice cream in waffle cups, ice cream on a stick was purchased.
This direction has been dynamically developing from year to year, and already in 2020 the plant additionally acquired a third Italian line. Now this is the most modern equipment at the enterprise, which produces any type of ice cream. It is also unique in that it produces popsicles.
There are already three Italian lines operating at the plant, making it possible to produce up to 30 thousand portions of delicious delicacies per hour.
A new freezing warehouse was built, equipped with modern highly efficient freezers, it can hold up to 200 tons of ice cream.
YOUR OWN DAIRY FARM
With the growing demand, the modernization of production and the supply of products to neighboring regions, the question arose of a stable supply of raw materials. Therefore, the founder decided to build a modern dairy farm. The development of the project was entrusted to a Dutch company that specializes in the construction of modern farms and the supply of pedigree livestock.
The project with a total cost of $ 20 million was approved by KazAgroFinance JSC. The equipment was delivered from Holland. A thousand heads of high-yielding Holstein-Friesian cows were purchased in Europe.
In 2009, the construction of a dairy farm in Martuk district was started, and on July 6, 2010 the MTF was opened.
There were a lot of difficulties in the big new business. 2010 was marked by the beginning of a long-term drought in the Aktobe region, serious problems arose with the production of feed.
“We cultivated about 10 thousand hectares of land,” says the head of the Ice company. - For 6 years there was a drought, so they had to import feed from Orenburg. The loss of livestock began. Holstein-Friesian cows, due to their genetic characteristics, in contrast to local cows, need a scientifically balanced diet. It turned out that it was not respected.
The next step was the development of breeding work. They attracted American specialists to this. For three years, we have completely renewed the herd with our own replacement young animals, having almost doubled productivity.
In addition, the company is now the only one in the country that specializes in the sale of high-breeding cattle adapted to the climatic conditions of Kazakhstan. We have introduced a modern Israeli herd management and care program, which allows you to fully control the health of the herd and the quality of milk produced.
A GOOD APPROACH
“Having suffered from the drought, we realized that when growing forage in our region, it is necessary to introduce an irrigation system,” said Kuanysh Ishanov. - The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan spoke about this in his Address, stressing that agrarians should gradually increase the amount of irrigated land. In 2014, a project was successfully developed with the support of the regional leadership. Under the Business Roadmap program, we installed pumping stations, brought pipelines to irrigated land plots, bought 6 irrigation machines and organized irrigation on a 580-hectare site. We also managed to replenish our fleet with agricultural machinery from the European company Class.
The development of crop production required the involvement of Western technologies, the purchase of high-quality seeds, and a scientific approach. As it turned out, in Kazakhstan and in the post-Soviet space there are no institutions that could do soil analysis. I had to send samples for analysis in a laboratory in Austria. Based on the results obtained, recommendations were made to improve the composition of the soil for growing forage crops. By the end of 2016, the farm was provided with its own stock of good juicy feed. On this basis, milk yields began to grow.
LUCERNE FOR EXPORT
Cooperation with Western partners and the experience gained in crop production allowed the creation of an additional irrigated area of 1,800 hectares. And at the beginning of this year, the LLP also built a plant for the production of granulated alfalfa by purchasing automated technological equipment from a German company.
Recently, the company received positive indicators on the quality of alfalfa pellets from a Dutch laboratory and is now planning to start exporting products to Europe, China and the Middle East.
Taking into account the annual growth in the production of dairy products by 30%, its demand, the enterprise came to the conclusion that in 2-3 years the current milk production capacity would not be enough for processing. Therefore, it is planned to build a large dairy farm for 8 thousand heads. The annual milk production capacity will be 26,280 tons.
THE STATE HELPS INNOVATORS
“The dairy business is the most difficult in agriculture,” Kuanysh Ishanov is convinced. “And we welcome the policy of our President aimed at supporting and developing the agro-industrial complex. Today, the state program for subsidizing dairy farming gives us the opportunity to develop and increase production capacity. All construction and modernization projects were implemented thanks to government assistance.
Investment subsidies are underway, that is, the return of part of the amounts spent on the purchase of equipment. Established subsidies for the production of commercial milk, the cost of keeping animals. The Ministry of Agriculture and Akimat of Aktobe region stimulate and support us in the further development of modern milk production and its processing. Of course, the result of this joint work will be, as before, useful dairy products on the tables of the residents of Western Kazakhstan.
To create food security in our region, billions of dollars are invested in the development of a capital-intensive enterprise almost every year. It would seem that the founder of the enterprise could make investments in a business that pays off much faster. But patriotism, entrepreneurial talent, love for the native land and compatriots of the founder, Maral Itegulov, made it possible to create a unique agricultural cluster in the region. Today, every Aktobe resident can proudly say that in his hometown, village there are products for sale from a dairy company, which has long become a brand of the region.
Source
www.kazpravda.kz 
