Recently, a national brand competition "One Village - One Product" (OVOP) was held in Bishkek, organized with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This event brought together farmers and producers from all corners of Kyrgyzstan, becoming an important platform for showcasing unique regional products.
During the competition, 19 products received special awards, and three outstanding brands were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals based on the jury's voting.
Such initiatives provide excellent opportunities for mothers with many children and women entrepreneurs from the regions. The OVOP project has become a chance for many to transform home production into a sustainable business, gain professional support, and access new markets.
Today's women are not only keepers of the hearth but also successful producers of high-quality organic products, proudly representing their regions on the national stage.
The guests of the event were pleasantly surprised by the performance of the "Komuz Samurai" group, consisting of Japanese volunteers and staff from various missions, who performed famous Kyrgyz melodies on the komuz. Throughout the event, tastings and sales of products were organized, giving participants the opportunity to showcase the quality and uniqueness of their goods.
Hirano Ryuichi, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Kyrgyzstan, noted that the "One Village - One Product" project opens new horizons for showcasing national products and promoting them in the international market. He emphasized that the initiative makes a significant contribution to the development of regions and support for local producers.
The ambassador added that in 2023, OVOP was officially recognized as a national economic project, marking an important step in its institutional development. He reminded that this initiative has been implemented since 2009 and has proven its effectiveness over this time.
"The products of OVOP are attractive and reflect the unique culture, traditions, and individuality of each region of Kyrgyzstan," noted Hirano Ryuichi, adding that it is this authenticity and quality that make the project's goods competitive and in demand.
The project was launched in the Issyk-Kul region, known for its fruits, honey, and clean air. Enthusiasts combined all this to create organic products.
In the Batken region, local producers use apricot and dried fruit pulp to make marmalade, and from the pits, they create facial scrubs, thus implementing waste-free production.
The Batken region is famous for its fertile lands and abundance of fruits such as pomegranates, persimmons, figs, and sweet apricots.
"We collect wild dried fruit that usually no one eats. After drying, it becomes very hard, and we grind it into flour, from which we make cookies in the shape of the 'Aigul' flower. We add rice flour to the dough. The cookies are very healthy," shares Aidan Attakurova, a seller at a farmers' market in Bishkek.
The Naryn region, rich in livestock, focuses on meat product production.
"There is a trend towards healthy eating now, and people are increasingly buying organic products," notes food technologist Meerim Abdyrasulova.
The Jalal-Abad region offered pistachio and almond paste at the fair, which are grown in this region.
Also presented was a lip gloss with beeswax, which teaches and helps develop new products from local ingredients.
The Aravan district of the Osh region is famous for its persimmons, pomegranates, and figs. Entrepreneurs focused on these fruits and developed healthy and tasty products: chips, juices, and food additives powder.
In Uzgen, the idea arose to make cookies from corn and rice flour in the shape of the Uzgen tower and, on the advice of Japanese experts, to produce rice tea.
"We are currently working on creating products from rose hips, which are rich in vitamins and necessary for replenishing beneficial elements," added coordinator for the Osh region Aigerim Umarbaeva.
