According to information provided by the ministry, approximately 66 thousand hectares have been sown with both grain crops and vegetables at this time. For comparison, during the same period last year, this figure was about 25 thousand hectares. The main crops include wheat on an area of about 41 thousand hectares, barley on 45 thousand hectares, and potatoes on five thousand hectares.
The head of the department reported that the most active sowing work is being carried out in the Batken, Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Chui regions. In the Issyk-Kul and Talas regions, the sowing campaign has just begun, while in the Naryn region, it has not yet started due to unfavorable climatic conditions.
The sowing campaign traditionally began in the southern regions: the first works started in the Aravan district of the Osh region, followed by the Nookat district. Currently, almost all districts in the south and the Chui region have actively joined the sowing work, where mainly grain crops are being planted. Soon, sowing of corn and sugar beets will also begin.
Provision of seeds, equipment, and fertilizers
The ministry emphasizes the high readiness of the agricultural sector for spring work. Currently, the provision of seeds for grain crops is about 88%, and for other crops, it is almost 100%. There are 86 seed farms operating in the republic, through which farmers can receive subsidies for seeds. The state 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 for fertilizers range from 24 to 35 soms per kilogram, depending on their type — nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium. The provision of pesticides is about 35%, however, specialists do not note any shortages.
The technical readiness of farmers is also high, reaching 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 of machinery are planned to be used for spring fieldwork.
Fuel and preferential support
The annual fuel requirement for agriculture is about 42 thousand tons of diesel fuel and 12 thousand tons of gasoline. According to oil traders, the required volume of fuel is available at gas stations.
Additionally, farmers have been allocated about 7 thousand tons of fuel at a preferential price of 74 soms per liter through the Material Reserves Fund. Farmers can also purchase fertilizers on preferential terms through district agricultural development departments.
Development of seed production and export
One of the key tasks remains the improvement of the seed fund. The ministry, together with the Kyrgyz Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, plans to strengthen the scientific base and attract young specialists in the field of breeding, as the average age of active specialists in this field reaches 70 years.
In recent years, Kyrgyzstan has been actively entering the international seed market. For example, alfalfa seeds have been exported to Russia, pumpkin seeds to Japan, corn has been sent to Uzbekistan for testing, and alfalfa and potato seeds to Belarus.
Moreover, a factory for the production of vegetable seeds has opened in the Sokuluk district, which will start its operations this year. In the Chui region, a facility for the production of grain seeds is also under construction. At the same time, an agreement has been reached with a Dutch company to create a factory for the production of elite potato varieties, with the launch planned for next year.
Water resources — the main risk factor
However, specialists emphasize the growing problem of diminishing water resources. Bolotbek Tashtanov, head of the Water Policy and Drinking Water Supply Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, reported that the decrease in water reserves is a global trend.
In this regard, the ministry has focused on several areas: the reconstruction of existing irrigation and water storage systems built back in the 1950s and 1960s; revising the crop structure considering the water consumption of crops and the possible transition 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 from sources, the volume for the current season is estimated at 6 billion 303 million cubic meters. Last year, there was already a water shortage in the Chui region, Talas Valley, and southern regions.
To avoid such situations, special headquarters have been created in the regions by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, which will coordinate and rationally distribute water resources during the fieldwork.
According to the department's data, spring fieldwork in the republic is currently proceeding according to schedule. Farmers are recommended to purchase certified seeds through official seed farms, which will help increase yield and product quality.
The authorities assure that operational headquarters in the districts are ready to respond quickly to possible problems faced by farmers and to ensure the stable conduct of the sowing campaign.
