According to the ministry's data, approximately 66 thousand hectares have already been sown with grain and vegetable crops. For comparison, at the same date last year, this figure was about 25 thousand hectares. Of the total area sown, about 41 thousand hectares are occupied by wheat, 45 thousand hectares by barley, and about 5 thousand hectares by potatoes.
According to the head of the department, the most active sowing work is currently being carried out in the Batken, Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Chui regions. While sowing is just beginning in the Issyk-Kul and Talas regions, work has not yet started in the Naryn region due to unfavorable climatic conditions.
The sowing traditionally began in the southern regions of the country — first in the Aravan district of the Osh region, then in the Nookat district. Currently, almost all districts in the south and the Chui region have joined the work, where mainly grain is being sown. In the coming days, corn and sugar beet planting is planned.
Seed, equipment, and fertilizer provision
The ministry emphasizes the high level of readiness of the agricultural sector for spring work. Currently, the provision of seeds for grain crops is about 88%, and for other crops — nearly 100%. There are 86 seed farms operating in the republic, through which farmers can receive subsidies for seeds. The state also provides subsidies for seeds of wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, and alfalfa.
As for mineral fertilizers, about 35 thousand tons have been imported into the country since the beginning of the year, of which approximately 10 thousand tons are already available. Prices range from 24 to 35 soms per kilogram depending on the type of fertilizers — nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium. The provision of pesticides is about 35%, however, according to specialists, there is no shortage observed.
The technical readiness of farmers is also at a high level — about 90%. In total, there are more than 95 thousand units of agricultural machinery in the country, including tractors, combines, and seeders. About 22 thousand units are planned to be used for spring work.
Fuel and preferential support conditions
Agriculture requires about 42 thousand tons of diesel fuel and 12 thousand tons of gasoline per year. According to oil traders, the required volume of fuel is available at gas stations.
Additionally, the Material Reserves Fund has allocated about 7 thousand tons of fuel to farmers at a preferential price of 74 soms per liter. Farmers also have the opportunity to purchase fertilizers on preferential terms through district agricultural development offices.
Seed production development and export prospects
One of the key areas remains the improvement of the seed fund. The ministry, in cooperation with the Kyrgyz Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, plans to strengthen the scientific base and attract young specialists to breeding, as the average age of specialists in this field is about 70 years.
In recent years, Kyrgyzstan has also begun exporting seeds to international markets. In particular, alfalfa seeds were sent to Russia, pumpkin seeds to Japan, corn seeds for testing to Uzbekistan, and alfalfa and potato seeds to Belarus.
Moreover, a factory for producing vegetable seeds has been opened in the Sokuluk district, which will start operating this year. A facility for producing grain seeds is also being built in the Chui region. At the same time, an agreement has been reached with a Dutch company to build a factory for producing elite potato varieties, which is expected to launch next year.
Water resources as a major risk
However, specialists highlight the growing problem of decreasing water resources. As noted by Bolotbek Tashtanov, head of the water policy and drinking water supply department at the Ministry of Agriculture, the reduction of water reserves is a global issue.
In this regard, the ministry has focused on several areas: the reconstruction of old irrigation and water storage systems built back in the 1950s and 1960s; revising the crop structure considering the water consumption of crops and transitioning to drought-resistant varieties in conditions of water scarcity.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, if in 2025 about 5 billion 7 million cubic meters of water were used, the volume is projected to be 6 billion 303 million cubic meters for the current season. At the same time, last year there was already a water shortage observed in the Chui region, Talas Valley, and southern regions.
To prevent such problems, special headquarters have been established in the regions by the instruction of the Cabinet of Ministers to coordinate the distribution of water resources during fieldwork.
According to the department's information, spring fieldwork in the republic is proceeding according to plan. Farmers are advised to purchase certified seeds through official seed farms, which will help increase the yield and quality of agricultural products.
The authorities also emphasize that operational headquarters in the regions are ready for any problems faced by farmers and will ensure the stable conduct of the sowing campaign.
