The team of the “Value Chain Agro Finance” Project participated and provided direct support in organizing the first regional forum “Organic Expo-Central Asia” that was held on September 20, 2024.

This large-scale event promotes the unification of advocates for the systemic advancement of organic and regenerative agriculture.

As part of the event, the Project team took part in the fair-exhibition of organic and environmentally friendly products, as well as organic technologies.

On August 22, 2024, a field day for the “Value Chain Agro Finance” project took place in the village of Zhar-Bashy, Chon-Alai district. The event gathered representatives from KfW, partner organizations, local administration, rural management, as well as members of the Zhar-Bashy Agricultural Cooperative and other interested parties. The main aim was to showcase the project’s achievements, highlight the benefits of producing high-quality seed potatoes, and discuss the implementation of a private certification control system for seed potatoes.

The event was structured into three main stations. At the first station, participants were introduced to new techniques for growing seed potatoes and the voluntary private certification system, including a demonstration of the seed potato calibration process. The second station focused on a comparative analysis of the economic efficiency between Super Elite seed multiplication and R3 European seed potato production. The third station addressed the effective interaction between the seed potato value chain and the private certification control system in the Chon-Alai district.

After the field day, a meeting was held with three agricultural cooperatives: Zhar-Bashy Agricultural Cooperative (seed potato producer), Aravan AgroService, and Zoloto Doliny Agricultural Cooperative (buyers). The key discussion points included delivery timelines, seed potato calibration, seed quality, label improvements, and payment terms. It was agreed that seed potatoes would be delivered by the end of October, with an agreed calibration fraction and the possibility of additional manual calibration if needed. The price was set between 29-30 soms/kg, including transportation costs to Aravan and Kara-Sui districts, with the exact price to be confirmed at the time of seed delivery. Terms and deadlines for payment were also agreed upon.

On August 16, a successful Field Day for farmers was held as part of our project activities, in the village of Jai-Terek, Jalal-Abad region, gathering 32 participants.

The event became a significant milestone in exchanging knowledge and experience among local agricultural professionals. Oksana Dovletshina attended the event as a representative of the “Value Chain Agro Finance” project. Syrgabek Zhoibolotov, the Director of OF SCS, provided participants with detailed insights into the project’s activities, goals, and plans, emphasizing the importance of sustainable agricultural development in the region.

As part of the Field Day program, the project experts shared knowledge on the best types of elite potatoes coming to Kyrgyzstan, presented the agro-technologies of potato cultivation, and conducted a training session on the methods of potato disease prevention and pest control.

The event concluded with a practical assessment of potato field, where Camellia Elite, Columba Elite, and Riviera Elite varieties were planted.  The monitoring showed good results on potato quality and state. Farmers showed high interest in participating in the event and expressed a willingness of applying the acquired knowledge in practice.

On August 11, 2024, a training on calculating carbon dioxide emissions (CO2 emissions) was held for the staff of Jalal-Abad AAS and the TES Center, who are responsible for implementing agricultural schemes. The training was attended by 15 employees from Agriculture Advisory Service Providers (AAS) Jalal-Abad and the TES Center.

The experts leading the session were Torsten Swoboda, Elvira Suvanova, and Sherzod Abdurakhmanov. The training was conducted online and focused on introducing participants to the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, methane, and N2O. Participants studied the coefficients that determine the impact of various gases on global warming, as well as the methodology for calculating carbon dioxide emissions within agricultural schemes.

The primary goal of the training was to increase staff awareness of the impact of agricultural activities on climate change and to develop their skills in environmentally sustainable management. At the end of the training, participants received educational materials to help them apply the knowledge gained in practice.

The “Value Chain Agrofinance” project has commenced activities to master testing methods for agricultural and food products.

During the first visit, international experts from Latvia and Ukraine are providing practical training to specialists from the Bishkek Center for Testing, Certification, and Metrology. The training covers the detection of genetically modified organisms in food products, the determination of residual tetracycline antibiotics using high-performance liquid chromatography with a mass spectrometric detector in food products, and the analysis of fatty acid composition of the fat phase using gas chromatography.

On July 24th, a practical field day was held in Nizhne-Chui village, Sokuluk district, with 45 farmers in attendance. We showcased modern technologies for cultivating hybrid and varietal sweet peppers.

Experts Abdulhamid Mamashukurov and Maksat Kozhomkulov shared their experience and knowledge, demonstrated cultivation techniques, and discussed the economic efficiency of growing this crop.

The farmers learned about proper fertilization, the importance of crop rotation, drip irrigation, and received practical advice to help increase their yields and product quality. Let’s continue to develop our agriculture together and reach new heights! This field day is part of the technical assistance implemented by GOPA AFC, financed through KfW, EU, EIB.

From July 16 to 19, 2024, as part of the ‘Agricultural Value Chain Finance’ project, an expert mission from the Netherlands on seed potato field inspection took place in the Chon-Alai District, Osh Region.

The purpose of the visit was to conduct a hands-on training to prepare local field inspectors. Among the participants were representatives of the regional divisions of the Department of Agricultural Crop Expertise under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic. Invited experts from the Research Institute of Vegetable and Melon Crops and Potatoes of the Republic of Uzbekistan also participated in the event.

During the meeting, plans and expected outcomes of the joint work within the project were discussed. Collaboration with international experts and the use of advanced practices will help establish a Quality Control and Certification System (QCCS) to enhance the export potential of seed material in the Kyrgyz Republic.

On July 17, 2024, farmers from Pervomayskoye, Sokuluk District, gathered for a field day dedicated to the innovative “CONVISO SMART” technology for growing sugar beets. The event saw participation from farmers, representatives of the TES Center, «KWS» Agro-industrial company, and the “Kaindy Kant” and “Koshoi” factories, as well as leading agricultural experts.

Experts shared valuable insights on combating weeds, pests, and diseases, and discussed promising KWS sugar beet hybrids. They highlighted how this technology can increase sugar beet yields, reduce herbicide costs, and improve product quality.

Farmers also toured demonstration plots showcasing the application of CONVISO SMART technology.

On July 15, 2024, staff from the Rural Advisory Service (RAS) Jalalabad, who are implementing zero-till agricultural schemes, participated in an online training focused on monitoring.

The training equipped participants with a comprehensive understanding of key indicators for zero-till schemes, effective monitoring methodologies, and proper data collection techniques.

Participants received expert guidance on modern crop monitoring practices and actionable recommendations for successful monitoring activities.

To reinforce their learning and ensure practical application, a field trip to the Jalal-Abad region is scheduled. During this trip, participants will collaborate with agronomists to collect essential data and assess crop health firsthand. This training is part of the technical assistance implemented by GOPA AFC in Kyrgyzstan, financed through KfW, EU, EIB.