The signing of the document was attended by high-ranking officials such as Deputy Minister Mirbek Duyyshev, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Kyrgyzstan, Hiroshi Hirano, and the UNDP Director in the republic, Kojiro Nakai.
Agriculture remains a key source of income for many rural residents; however, it faces serious challenges posed by climate change, a lack of water resources, and low levels of adoption of modern agricultural technologies.
Deputy Minister Duyyshev noted that this initiative will contribute to national goals aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and strengthening cooperatives, which in turn will enhance farmers' resilience.
The project, funded by Japan in the amount of 4.5 million USD, aims to support 17,000 small farmers in the Batken, Jalal-Abad, and Osh regions.
The main objectives of the project include strengthening food security and improving living conditions in regions most affected by climate change. Special attention will be given to expanding opportunities for small farmers, especially women, through the creation of self-help groups and agricultural cooperatives. The project also plans to improve the management of water and land resources and strengthen market links in mountain communities.
Ambassador Hiroshi Hirano emphasized that Japan considers it important to support projects that promote sustainable development in rural areas of Kyrgyzstan.
The implementation of the project will take place with technical support from JICA and will contribute to the Ministry's strategy for developing value chain clusters for fruits and vegetables.
As part of the program, farmers will receive:
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high-quality seedlings
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climate-resilient greenhouses with drip irrigation
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water reservoirs
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sites for organic compost production
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small storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses
In addition, training programs will be organized on:
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farming in the context of climate change
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managing post-harvest processes
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organizing cooperatives and financial management
