IFAD back to the field to review agricultural value chains project

The six-year project (2018-2023), covering all regions of Kyrgyzstan, has an estimated total cost of USD 55.4 million. It aims to develop efficient and sustainable value chains for livestock products such as dairy, livestock, wool and honey, and to modernize sanitary conditions in animal husbandry. Processing enterprises are being encouraged to link up with small farmers and veterinarians to create value chains that improve the incomes of all concerned.

To attract farmers to receive support from the project, social mobilization has been carried out for the raw material providers working with identified agro-processing companies. As a result, 43 farming groups were created to purvey their milk, meat and honey to processing facilities.

Mr Mukashev highlighted challenges related to the quality of livestock breeds and fodder and the degradation of pastures. He also underlined the importance of sustainable value chains for food safety. He added that projects only create real benefit when business structures and government bodies are able to take over the baton of innovative solutions.

Mr Bejaoui confirmed that ATMP is already addressing most of the identified obstacles and that in preparation of the upcoming mid-term review mission foreseen later this year, further focus will be given to the farmers groups’ needs in terms of capacity-building, forage production, increase of breed quality as well as good governance, and therefore ensure sustainability of IFAD’s investment through ATMP in the rural areas of the Kyrgyz Republic.