A new cold storage facility in Osh Oblast, established in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and local business Eco Azyk LLC, is set to benefit Kyrgyzstan in several ways. The facility, located in Japalak village, received cooling equipment worth 6,910 million KGS, allowing it to freeze and store up to 300 tons of fruits and berries for both domestic and international markets.
Ali Tavaldiev, head of ECO Azyk LLC, noted that cold storage preserves the freshness of berries and allows for the adoption of improved technologies and management practices, leading to higher sales and exports.
James Lykos, Director of the USAID/Kyrgyzstan Economic Development Office, highlighted the importance of cold storage in reducing food waste and meeting consumer demand. USAID's Agro Trade Activity has been working with Kyrgyz firms since 2018 to establish 20 cold storage facilities in the southern region. These facilities, with a total capacity of 12,000 tons, are expected to increase the region's cold storage capacity by over 200% and decrease food spoilage by 40%.
Source: kg.usembassy.gov