 Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz Agro-Enterprise Development (KAED) Project
Since late 2002 IFDC has been participating in a
project to improve agribusiness prospects in the
Ferghana Valley of Kyrgyzstan. IFDC is providing
critical know-how in technical fields, such as
competitiveness, production, packaging, and marketing
to key project clients. IFDC is also helping to
establish industry clusters on demand.
 Significant
accomplishments of the project include:
•
Encouraged the expansion of the leading agricultural
association in the country with more than 150
dues-paying members, including large and small
agricultural inputs dealers.
•
Conducted 30 training programs on the development of
retail farm stores, covering issues such as location,
product diversity, store size, necessary legal
documents, input sourcing, business plan development,
and inventory management.
•
Assisted with the creation of 7 retail farm stores.
The Project has a goal of opening 21 retail farm
stores in southern Kyrgyzstan by 2006; plans include
the opening of 8 more stores next year.
•
Assisted with the increased importation of
fertilizers, improved seeds, and CPPs.
•
Facilitated the removal of the value-added tax (VAT)
on fertilizer and CPPs. The removal of this tax
translates into millions of dollars saved for small
and large farmers, fertilizer dealers, and CPP
suppliers. Ultimately this saving will result in
increased production of food for the Kyrgyz consumer
at lower prices while at the same time discouraging
the supply of low-quality contraband products.
• A
study tour to the Netherlands proved successful for
the Association of Agribusinessmen of Kyrgyzstan (AAK)
members participating. The tour proved beneficial
regarding (1) market linkages with seed companies, (2)
advocacy issues, and (3) the need for private sector
extension services among AAK member businesses.
• The
project staff assisted with the establishment of 16
different vegetable and grain crops in demonstration
fields.
•
Each month 1,800 copies of the agribusiness newsletter
is distributed in Kyrgyz and Russian. |
