Agriculture and Food Security

Caption: USAID’s Kyrgyz Agro Input Enterprise Development Project helps farmers increase yields through training on integrated crop management approaches.

Photo: Kyrgyz Agro Enterprise Development Project

The two most critical aspects of food insecurity in Kyrgyzstan are the poor agricultural sector performance and the limited access to agricultural inputs. Many of the Kyrgyz agricultural lands have been seriously degraded, farmers have limited water management capability, and there is low adoption of modern, yield-enhancing agricultural inputs. These are key contributors to low yields and result in reduced farmer incomes. Proactively addressing the root causes of low agricultural productivity is essential to achieving sustainable improvement in agriculture sector performance.  The issue of food security is particularly important following the political events in April of 2010 and the subsequent rise in regional and world food prices.

Increasing food security and economic growth in Kyrgyzstan continue to be priorities for USAID, which also works to improve farmer awareness, understanding, and access to yield-enhancing agricultural production technologies.

USAID works in partnership with the Government to implement programs under the Economic Development Fund aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector. Coordinated program activities include: a distribution of locally procured seeds to small- and medium-sized farms throughout the country; the provision of agricultural production machinery among target seed farms; and support to livestock breeding farms through the procurement of live animals, livestock equipment, and the provision of targeted technical assistance.

Through numerous projects and public outreach campaigns, USAID has assisted over 20,000 progressive farmers in planting improved seed varieties as well as some 80,000 farmers who are adopting better farming and animal care practices.