KSAP

Kyrgyzstan in transition

The agricultural sector, the main economic sector of Kyrgyz economy is undergoing deep changes. Large collective farms have been converted into various small units. At present many families, who often lack access to inputs, knowledge and markets, have to survive on their own production. However, farming: i.e. being an entrepreneur who has to make decisions about agricultural production, processing and marketing, is a new profession in Kyrgyzstan.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), according to its decision to support the "Management of Natural Resources and Infrastructure"  in the Central Asian countries in transition, aims at the "Efficient and sustainable management of natural resources and the establishment of a reliable and adequate infrastructure as the basis for economic and social development".

The considerable investments made by Switzerland into the agricultural sector in Kyrgyzstan during the past few years, mainly within the framework of the Kyrgyz Swiss Agricultural Project, has allowed them to gain extremely valuable experience that will be put to good use in phase V of the Kyrgyz Swiss Agricultural Programme, run by Helvetas.

Objectives of the Kyrgyz-Swiss Agricultural Programme (KSAP VII)

The overall goal of the Programme is "To contribute to poverty alleviation and to improve the living conditions in rural areas of Kyrgyzstan through agricultural advisory services".

The Programme goal is defined as follows: "With the support of the KSAP, effective, decentralized and demand driven extension services, steered by farmers' councils, are in place".

The Rural Advisory Services (RAS)

Since 1999, with KSAP support, Kyrgyzstan has had a new, semi-autonomous Rural Advisory Service (RAS). RAS, which operates in all seven oblasts, is locally organised and controlled by farmers.

RAS is one of five components of the Agricultural Support Services Project, which is funded by means of a loan obtained by the Kyrgyz Government from the World Bank and IFAD.

RAS offers activities such as training to farmers, on topics of interest, adaptive research, group formation, individual and group consultations, publicity and campaigns.

RAS advisors, together with interested farmers or groups of farmers and involved experts, search for practical solutions, "which work", to overcome the key constraints in crop production, including soil fertility, animal breeding, marketing, processing and specific problems of the rural  poor.

KSAP supports the countrywide RAS

In its phase VII, the KSAP will continue and extend the progress achieved during phase VI, namely, supporting the Rural Advisory Services in Kyrgyzstan through technical assistance and joint finance. The main efforts will focus on a more decentralized approach - farmer-owned rural advisory services (RAS), controlled by farmers' councils - as a new structure.

A new KSAP component enhances the development of innovations within RAS. Small investment goods with high potential to improve living standard and agriculture production of poor smallholders are invented, promoted through RAS and introduced in the local markets.

Beyond the support of RAS

The two specific projects complementary to the Rural Advisory Services will continue their activities during phase V.

KSAP will continue to facilitate agriculture policy development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry in the framework of its Policy Support Project (PSP). PSP will further facilitate the development of a rural extension policy in order to clarify the importance of RAS for the Government and the commitment of MAWPI for advisory services.

A new company, capitalized by shares, Central Asian Breeding Services Ltd. (CABS), which was initiated by the KSAP, is helping to improve farmers' access to good quality breeding materials. CABS is importing high quality semen, running village artificial insemination points and is rendering various other services related to livestock breeding.

KSAP in brief:

How to contact us:

Helvetas

43/1 Grajdanskaya St., Bishkek

Tel: +996 (312) 36 06 72, 36 06 74

Fax: +996 (312) 36 06 73

E-mail: program@helvetas.kg

KSAP Country Programme:

43/1, Grajdanskaya St., Bishkek

Tel: +996 (312) 36 55 71; 36 55 65

Fax: +996 (312) 36 55 72

E-mail: ksap@helvetas.kg; ksapadm@helvetas.kg

C/p: Elisabeth Katz