Kyrgyzstan has joined the FAO’s soil restoration programme

Kyrgyzstan has joined the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s global initiative ‘Doctors for Soils’, which aims to enhance the sustainability of the agricultural sector and preserve soil fertility. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Kyrgyz Research Institute of Agriculture and involves training farmers in soil diagnosis and restoration methods. Against the backdrop of climate change, erosion and land degradation, such measures are seen as a tool for stabilising crop yields and reducing risks to food security.

The first phase of the programme concluded in Bishkek, where a seminar for 25 master trainers took place from 23 to 27 March. The trained specialists will scale up sustainable soil management practices across the regions, teaching farmers basic analysis methods — from assessing acidity to working with organic matter. Participants have already put their newly acquired skills to the test during field sessions with farmers in the Chui region, which helps to accelerate the practical implementation of these technologies.

According to FAO estimates, participation in the programme can improve the efficiency of land use and reduce the burden on soils without significant capital expenditure. In the long term, this lays the foundation for increased agricultural productivity, improved product quality and greater resilience of Kyrgyzstan’s agri-food system against the backdrop of intensifying climate risks.