“Today we cover 20% of our needs for grain seeds. Our goal is to increase the volume to 37,000 tons by 2030,” he noted.
There are 86 seed-growing farms operating in the country, and farmers must purchase certified seeds from them and nurseries to avoid low-quality planting material.
According to Tashtanov, there are also large companies in the market that import certified seeds from Europe and Russia.
Work is being conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Agriculture on selection, including initiatives to attract young specialists.
“Since the average age of breeders is high, we are creating more attractive conditions, increasing salaries to engage the youth,” he added.
In 2024, an agreement was signed with a Russian scientific institute, under which nine varieties of agricultural crops, including drought-resistant ones, were sown.
A vegetable seed production plant is also opening in the Sokuluk district in collaboration with the agricultural university, which will start operating this year.
New varieties imported from abroad are being tested in the country. For example, one variety of safflower demonstrated a yield of 20–22 quintals per hectare on rain-fed lands.
Kyrgyzstan has also begun exporting seeds: in 2024, alfalfa seeds were sent to Russia, and pumpkin seeds to Japan. An increase in supply volumes is expected this year.
Corn seeds are undergoing testing in Uzbekistan, and if successful, they may be included in the registry for further export. Similar tests are also planned in Belarus.
In addition, an agreement has been reached with Dutch companies to build a plant for the production of super elite potato seeds, with expectations of starting exports in 2–3 years.
A grain seed processing plant is also planned to be built in the Chui region.
