As part of the signing, a project was presented that will assist 17,000 small farmers from the Batken, Jalal-Abad, and Osh regions. The Japanese government has allocated 4.5 million US dollars for the implementation of the program. The project aims to improve food security and the standard of living in regions most affected by climate change, with a focus on supporting women through cooperatives and mutual aid groups.
Attending the event were Deputy Minister Mirbek Duyyshev, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Kyrgyzstan, Hiroshi Hirano, and the UNDP Director in Kyrgyzstan, Kojiro Nakai. The Deputy Minister noted that the project aligns with national priorities to increase agricultural productivity and strengthen cooperatives, which in turn will enhance farmers' resilience.
Agriculture remains a key source of income for many rural residents of the country, but it is threatened by climate change, water shortages, and insufficient application of modern technologies. The new project will implement sustainable management of water and land resources, as well as strengthen market connections in mountainous regions.
Ambassador Hiroshi Hirano emphasized the importance of supporting initiatives that contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas in Kyrgyzstan. This project will also be implemented with technical support from JICA and will be a significant contribution to the Ministry's overall plan for developing clusters for fruit and vegetable value chains.
Farmers participating in the project will receive:
• quality seedlings
• climate-resilient greenhouses with drip irrigation
• water reservoirs
• sites for producing organic compost
• small storage facilities to minimize crop losses
Training programs will also be provided on:
• agriculture considering climate change
• post-harvest management
• cooperative and financial management
