A 1.5-hectare smart greenhouse dedicated to strawberry production has been launched in Uzbekistan's Yukorichirchik district, representing a targeted effort to modernise underutilised greenhouse assets. Developed by a Korean smart farm company, the project is based on the conversion of an idle facility, aligning with a broader strategy to reduce capital expenditure while accelerating deployment.

Approximately 75,000 plants of the Korean-bred variety (1943 Firmmit) have been established, with production focused on export markets including Russia and Kazakhstan. The variety is selected for its firmness, uniform fruit size, and suitability for long-distance transport.

Hydroponic cultivation for uniform quality
Hydroponics forms the technical foundation of the greenhouse system, enabling precise control over plant nutrition and irrigation. The system uses coco peat substrate and drip irrigation to deliver water and nutrients directly to the root zone.

According to Sun Kee Park, CEO of Firmmit, "With hydroponics, uniform flavour and berry size are achieved through balanced plant nutrition. Water and fertiliser volumes are fully controlled, and the process is managed centrally via software."

This approach eliminates soil-borne diseases and mitigates challenges related to salinity and inconsistent field conditions, which are common constraints in the region.

Integrated ICT and AI-based crop management
The greenhouse is operated using a proprietary ICT platform, integrating a network of IoT sensors that continuously monitor environmental and substrate conditions. Parameters such as temperature, humidity, CO₂ concentration, and light intensity are tracked in real time.

"All environmental and nutrient data are integrated into a single platform, enabling remote monitoring and control from Korea," he explains.

At the core of this system is FINO (Firmmit Intelligent Nutrient Optimizer), an AI-based nutrient management program. It calculates precise fertigation strategies based on local water quality and solar radiation, ensuring that nutrient delivery is dynamically adjusted throughout the crop cycle.

"We redesigned the entire nutrient framework to reflect Uzbekistan's water chemistry and solar conditions, ensuring stable crop performance from the first season," Sun Kee Park adds.

First-season performance and yield outlook
Despite delays that shortened the initial production window, the greenhouse produced approximately 30,000 kg of strawberries, generating $476,744 in revenue and achieving a gross margin of 76.4%.

Under full-season conditions, production is projected to reach 90,000?112,500 kg, with yields of 1.2?1.5 kg per plant.

Fruit quality remained consistent throughout the first season, with firmness ranging from 15.5 to 16.8 g/mm² and Brix levels between 11.5 and 13.0. Marketable yield reached up to 83%, meeting the requirements of premium retail channels.

"Consistency is not just a quality metric but a prerequisite for entering structured retail supply chains in Russia and Kazakhstan," he notes.