Our GOPA AFC team recently organized a field visit to Kyrgyzstan’s “Koshoi” sugar processing plant as part of the EU, EIB, and KfW-funded “Value Chain Agro Finance” project.

The visit included distinguished guests, such as Ambassador Marilyin Josefson of the EU Delegation to Kyrgyzstan, EIB Vice-President Kyriakos Kakouris, and other EU and EIB representatives. They explored the plant’s sugar production processes, raw material supply chains, and production strategies.

The project aims to strengthen the Koshoi factory’s capacity, efficiency, and competitiveness while supporting 4,000 sugar beet farmers who supply the plant. With KfW and EIB funding, farmers will adopt advanced farming technologies, and Koshoi will upgrade to energy-efficient equipment.

Producing 136,000 tonnes of sugar annually, Koshoi meets domestic demand and exports to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, significantly contributing to economic development and employment in Kyrgyzstan.

We are proud to collaborate with partner banks to provide tailored financial solutions for all stakeholders, fostering sustainable growth in the sugar value chain.

On November 26, 2024, a Consultative Meeting on Technical Assistance to State Laboratories of the Kyrgyz Republic under the “Value Chain Agro Finance” Project was held at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The meeting reviewed the results of joint activities conducted in 2024 within the framework of the project and discussed additional measures to expand the scope of accreditation for state laboratories. Accreditation ensures that laboratory research produces accurate and reproducible testing results that are recognized worldwide. The adoption of new methods for food product testing, supported by the “Value Chain Agro Finance” Project, facilitates the circulation of agricultural and food products in the member states of the EAEU and the European Union.

The “Value Chain Agro Finance” Project highly values the contribution of state laboratories to achieving the project’s objectives and expresses gratitude to all stakeholders for their efforts in enhancing the capacity of the Kyrgyz Republic’s state laboratories.

We successfully completed the next training session as part of the “Berry Growing Agronomist School” organized by the “Mоmо” Association. Participants from all regions of Kyrgyzstan learned modern approaches to berry farming, including land preparation, planting, care, increasing yields, and developing sales skills.

As part of the first stage, a thorough selection process was carried out. Out of more than 500 applications, 50 of the most promising agronomists, farmers, and young professionals from across the country were chosen. The selection criteria included experience in agriculture, professional skill level, and willingness to apply the knowledge gained to develop their regions.

The training began with introductory lectures and seminars conducted by leading international experts. Participants learned the basics of modern berry farming, innovative plant protection methods, and key approaches to marketing and brand development. Practical sessions took place at demonstration plots in Bishkek and Osh, where participants were able to apply theory in practice, mastering the latest irrigation systems and biological pest control techniques.

The program also provided a unique platform for networking. Participants established connections with international companies involved in the production and supply of seedlings, biopesticides, and modern agricultural technologies. These connections will help introduce advanced solutions into Kyrgyzstan’s berry farming sector.

The Berry Growers Association continues to work on the next stages of the program, including advanced training modules and practical workshops, with the goal of forming a professional community of the next generation of agronomists.

This training has become an important step in the development of berry farming and sustainable agriculture in Kyrgyzstan.

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.