At the forum “Agrodialog-2026,” Manas Samatov, head of the company “Gardens Consulting,” criticized outdated management methods in the agricultural sector. He emphasized that the strategic approach to the development of Kyrgyzstan must undergo changes: the focus should shift from abstract “food security” to real improvements in the lives and incomes of the rural population.
According to Samatov, it is necessary to realize today that the village and its residents are not just a resource for ensuring food security. “We continue to think in old categories, and this leads to the fact that labor in the countryside does not bring satisfaction and income,” he added.
The expert noted that mass migration from villages to cities is a direct reaction to the lack of decent wages in the regions. All social problems, in his opinion, begin in those places where work cannot feed a family. Samatov sees the solution to this situation in the transition to high-yield crops and the abandonment of the outdated model where farmers work “for the country” on a residual basis. Each rural household should have a stable and high income.
The old notions that push peasants to “provide for the country” were characterized by Samatov as bureaucratic relics. He believes that if a farmer becomes financially successful, many social problems will be solved automatically. In this model, there will be no need for “empty orders” prohibiting exports and imports, which come from officials who do not understand business logic.
“The interests of the country should be protected through reasonable regulation, tariffs, and transparent mechanisms, not through prohibitions. If apples or meat are produced in Kyrgyzstan, it is necessary to support these producers and stimulate farmers, rather than block their activities. Exports and imports should be free, prices should be balanced, and farmers' labor should be fairly rewarded,” he emphasized.
Samatov cited the situation with meat production as a negative example, where bans on the export of livestock led many farmers to leave the business due to its unprofitability, which, in turn, caused prices to rise for the population. This serves as a harsh lesson for the state: business cannot be prohibited; conditions for its profitability must be created.
The development strategy for Kyrgyzstan should be both social and economic. The village should be viewed as a source of income for millions, not just as a raw material resource. The expert is confident that only when labor on the land becomes profitable will migration to cities cease, and the agricultural sector will become a true driver of the economy.
“Agrodialog-2026 is a great platform for exchanging opinions and discussing necessary changes,” concluded Manas Samatov.
