On December 11, 2014, Kyrgyzstan joined the global community to celebrate the International Mountain Day, established by the decision of the 57th UN General Assembly.
The event was organized by Kyrgyz members of the international alliance of mountain countries ‘Mountain Partnership’ - the Public Foundation ‘MSDSP Kg’, the Public Foundation ‘ADI’, the Cultural and Research Center ‘Aigine’, the Association of Forest and Land Users of Kyrgyzstan, the Youth Ecological Movement ‘ElEko’, the Public Foundation ‘RDF’, and the Federation of Organic Movement ‘BIO-Kg’. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was a partner in the celebration of the International Mountain Day.
In 2014, the theme of the International Mountain Day (IMD 2014) was “Mountain Family Farms: Nourishing the World and Preserving the Planet,” coinciding with the International Year of Family Farming. Worldwide, actions and events were held on this day to draw attention to mountain farmers, who play a significant role in sustainable mountain development.
This theme is also relevant for Kyrgyzstan, where there are over 360,000 farms. A large portion of these are family farms, which account for more than 90% of the agricultural production in the republic.
As part of the International Mountain Day, four interesting events took place: a discussion on family farming, an information exhibition of best practices from members of the Mountain Partnership, a thematic photo exhibition, and a master class titled “Taste Laboratory: A Garden on the Windowsill.”
The welcoming speech was delivered by the Amanov family of farmers from the Naryn region, who gained global recognition as the face of the International Mountain Day 2014. They congratulated everyone present on the holiday and thanked the organizers and FAO for recognizing their humble labor. The farmers' congratulations were joined by Elbegzai Batjargal, the regional coordinator of the Mountain Partnership in Central Asia, and Dinara Rakhmanova, the FAO representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.
The event was hosted by Gulnara Aitpaeva from the cultural and research center “Aigine,” who initially conducted a beautiful and deeply meaningful ceremony called “Threads of Good,” during which all guests tied colorful threads with various wishes to each other. This ceremony has its roots in the nomadic ritual of tying pieces of cloth on trees, which served as a means of navigation and spiritual practice.
The panel discussion “The Seed Sector of Kyrgyzstan: Yesterday. Today. Where are we going?” addressed issues related to the main problems faced by family farms, with a primary focus on the provision of seeds to farmers.
Omurbek Mambetov, an FAO consultant, presented an overview of the current situation on the topic and initiated a discussion on the most pressing issues in this agricultural sector.
A great deal of interest was sparked by the presentation of farmer-breeder Kushbek Beyshenkulov from Kochkorka in the Naryn region, titled “How to Grow a Local Potato Variety in a Test Tube. My Experience as a Breeder.” The breeder believes that farmers should prefer local varieties, as this not only guarantees the production of healthy food but also contributes to the preservation of biodiversity.
During the panel discussion, each of the four speakers - Izat Mashirapova, a farmer from the Aksy district of the Osh region, Saparbek Amanov, a farmer from the Naryn region, Iskenderbek Aydaraliev from the Federation of Organic Movement “BIO-Kg,” and independent expert Sultan Sarygulov - shared their opinions on the discussed topic and engaged in an interesting dialogue with the audience.
The information exhibition showcased several practices from organizations that are members of the Mountain Partnership, which work in the field of sustainable rural development in the republic. The Public Foundation “MSDSP Kg,” the Association of Forest and Land Users of Kyrgyzstan, the Public Foundation ‘RDF,’ the Federation of Organic Movement ‘BIO-Kg,’ and the Public Foundation ‘SAMR Alatoo’ shared their innovative approaches and tools that have proven effective at the community level.
The photo exhibition “Mountain Family Farms: Nourishing the World and Preserving the Planet” was dedicated to the work of mountain farmers and illustrated through photography their contribution to the sustainable development of the country and the challenges they face.
The final block of the International Mountain Day offered participants the opportunity to experience being a family farmer in the master class “Taste Laboratory: A Garden on the Windowsill,” organized by the Public Foundation ‘Agency for Development Initiatives’ (ADI), where experienced agronomists taught how to properly plant seeds and seedlings of “green vitamins.” Participants in the master class not only learned something new but also took home delicious and healthy “summer in a pot,” created with their own hands.
Text: Alma Karsymbek, Mountain Partnership Representation in Central Asia
www.mountainpartnership.org
