IFAD in the Kyrgyz Republic

IFAD has approved loans to the government of the Kyrgyz Republic for a total of US$20.4 million. They support projects for agricultural development that are worth US$67.7 million and are in line with the government’s poverty reduction strategy. Research, training and extension have been the main focus of project activities.

The objective of the Agricultural Investments and Services Project is to improve the institutional and infrastructure environment for farmers and herders, with a strong emphasis on the livestock sector. The aims are to increase the productivity of farmers, particularly livestock farmers, and reduce animal diseases that have an impact on public health, such as brucellosis.

In the Agricultural Support Services Project, IFAD’s loan specifically supported activities that provide agricultural advisory services to poor rural people, especially women. The project is nearing completion and has developed a successful model for providing rural advisory services.

Through a loan of US$3.5 million, IFAD was an active partner in the Sheep Development Project initiated by the World Bank. The project was instrumental in forming a federation of sheep breeders, the Kyrgyz Sheep Breeders Association. The association represents a pioneering model that supports the government’s commitment to democratize institutions.

IFAD strategy in the Kyrgyz Republic

The goal of IFAD’s country and regional strategy is to reduce rural poverty by helping poor rural people improve their livelihoods and living standards. The strategy’s principal objectives are to:

• improve natural resource management, including land and water management and  participatory rangeland management
• improve poor people’s access to rural financial services and foster the development of rural microenterprises
• support land privatization and other reforms, and ensure ownership rights
• strengthen people’s participation at grass-roots level

IFAD’s operations in the country include attention to gender, preparedness for emergencies, and remittances from workers in other countries.

• IFAD-funded activities support the formation of women’s self-help groups and give women priority as clients of rural advisory services.
• Project designs include measures providing for emergency needs in case of natural disasters such as earthquakes, droughts, landslides and flashfloods. 
• Activities highlight the potential for investment of remittances in development at grass-roots level. 

Through collaboration with the Kyrgyz Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC), IFAD has gained valuable experience in the development of rural financial services for the benefit of poor rural people. Working with KAFC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Agricultural Support Services Project, IFAD helped create a model for a farm development fund.

Source: IFAD

email this article

Ongoing IFAD operations 1 Agricultural Investments and Services Project Statistics Projects: 3 Total cost: US$67.7 million IFAD loan: US$20.4 million Directly benefiting: 48,173 households   Contact information Mr Ya Tian Country programme manager IFAD Via Paolo Di Dono, 44 00142 Rome, Italy Tel: +39 0654592062 Fax: +39 0654593062 y.tian@ifad.org