Kyrgyzstan is located in Central Asia, west of China and south of Kazakhstan. The country's total land area is 199,951 sq km. In comparison, it is slightly larger than Senegal and similar in size to the state of South Dakota in the U.S. Kyrgyzstan’s climate ranges from dry continental in the mountains to subtropical in the southwest valley to temperate in the northern foothills. Of the total land area, only seven percent is utilized for cultivated crops, while no measurable amount of the total land supports permanent crops such as fruit- and nut-bearing trees. The country's population is approximately 5.4 million. Kyrgyzstan is a poor country with a predominantly agricultural economy. The country offers a diversity of agricultural products, though only tobacco and cotton are exported in measurable quantities. The country has been progressive in carrying out market reforms such as an improved regulatory system and land reform, and was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. However, 40 percent of the nation’s residents continue to live in poverty. Other agricultural products from Kyrgyzstan include potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruit, berries, livestock and wool. The EurAsia Division is responsible for IFDC activities in Kyrgyzstan.
Current IFDC Projects in Kyrgyzstan
- Kyrgyzstan Agro-Input Enterprise Development Follow-On Project, 2010-2014
The Follow-On project is helping to counter setbacks to agricultural intensification in the wake of Kyrgyz political and social disruptions in the spring of 2010. Mirroring its predecessor projects (2001-2010), the Follow-On project is assisting the sector to recover to 2009 wheat harvest highs, with one million metric tons to be produced in 2011. The project is expanding support and distribution systems to achieve sustained agricultural independence and creating public-private partnerships that facilitate technology introduction and business linkages. The project targets 20,000 farmers planting USAID-funded improved wheat varieties and 80,000 others adopting better farming and animal care practices. The project is introducing a voucher system and revolving fund for fertilizer procurement along with a land rehabilitation initiative, collaboration with organizations such as the Agribusiness Association of Kyrgyzstan (AAK) and a solid public outreach program.
DONOR: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Kyrgyzstan Local Economic Development Project (KLDP), 2010-2013
KLDP stimulates rapid, diversified and sustained agro-economic growth at the local level through advancements in Kyrgyzstan’s business and investment environment. The project is increasing municipal finance and capital investment and improving competitiveness of sectors with the most economic potential. These sectors are specifically agriculture and processing; KLDP is implementing grants to 55 small and medium enterprise beneficiaries with cost-sharing investments. Support is provided in the form of new equipment, marketing assistance and in-house extension services for fruit and vegetable processors, cold storage facilities, grading/sizing/packing lines, dried apricot handlers, kidney bean cleaners, livestock and fish feed mills, flour mills and milk collection and cooling points. This support is enabling outreach to 70,000 smallholder farmers and suppliers of raw materials as well as targeting regional and international markets with products exhibiting improvements in quality, packaging and labeling. Chemonics International is the lead implementing organization.
DONOR: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Recent IFDC Projects in Kyrgyzstan
- Kyrgyz Agro-Input Enterprise Development (KAED II) Project, 2008-2010
KAED II is an extension of the original KAED project (2001-2008). Its expanded scope includes both southern and northern Kyrgyzstan, and encourages farmers to adopt agricultural intensification practices that increase food production, improve animal health and increase rural incomes. The project creates sustainability at all levels, utilizing agribusiness and value chain members along with farmer and dealer associations.
DONOR: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Kyrgyz Agro-Input Enterprise Development Project (KAED), 2001-2008
KAED, the predecessor to KAED II, supported the development of agro-dealers in Kyrgyzstan and increased agricultural production through the use of improved technologies. Among other efforts, KAED assisted inputs market development and training, integrated agricultural markets nationwide, developed an agro-dealer trade association and built public-private sector cooperation on policy and regulatory reforms.
DONOR: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
