Kyrgyzstan produces 800,000 tons of fruit and vegetables annually, agriculture accounts for 14% of GDP, and 30% of Kyrgyzstan's population is engaged in this sector, the country’s Investment Promotion Agency says. The country has the potential to produce and export organic goods but there are a number of hurdles currently preventing this.
Kyrgyzstan’s farmers are interested in organic farming but the unavailability of long and soft loans to farmers and agro processors prevents the development of organic production in Kyrgyzstan, the Bio-KG Organic Federation said.
The absence of a stable, operating, producer-consumer chain and high transportation costs and customs duties, also hinder the development of the industry.
Despite Kyrgyzstan’s aim to boost organic farming there have been no changes in this area yet. With Kyrgyzstan’s joining the Eurasian Economic Union, local producers may now export their products to the large, 170 million EEU market, but the country is not ready for that. The State is mainly engaged in the creation of conditions for organic products, including improving logistics, laboratories, and training the people. However, this does not make sense if organic products cannot compete with products of other countries due to high costs and small volumes.
The introduction of innovative technologies could help change the situation in agriculture.
For instance, Kyrgyzstan’s experts have good experience in biogas technology, including the recycling of organic waste, manure at farms and urban food waste. After processing it, an environmentally friendly fertilizer is produced. Biogas plants help farmers to increase their harvests two or threefold compared to other farms.
However, these technologies are not applied at the state level due to the lack of money.
Border problems
Kyrgyz producers face problems with crossing borders, especially with Kazakhstan.
The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has advised Kazakhstan to remove the sanitary control at the border with Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan continues conducting sanitary control at the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border, contrary to the decision of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council of May 8, 2015 on the abolition of this kind of control.
Kyrgyzstan has unilaterally removed the quarantine sanitary control.
The current situation causes significant delays in the export of goods from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan, the EEC said.
Source: timesca.com