Credits issued to Russian hothouse farms by the US/RUSSIA investment fund, TUSRIF, will allow photosynthesis to carry on at night and boost standard crop yields by about 250% per m². The introduction of photoculture technology will see a three year cooperation plan between General Electric, the Reconstruction of Hothouse Farms Company and the TUSRIF in a bid to bring the special equipment to the Russian market.
The farms will need a total of US$85m to fully equip themselves with the new technology, which will be provided by TUSRIF in hard currency at 15-20% interest. The equipment of each hectare of farmland is expected to cost US$120,000 and the ambitious programme hopes to see the first completed by the end of 2000, ten more during next year, 20 hectares in 2002 and 30 in 2003.
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With the installation of special lamps, plant growing can become non-stop and hothouses will become capable of yielding three harvests a year.
