BISHKEK (TCA) — On August 15, Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbai Jeenbekov toured the new edible oil and garlic processing facility in Uzgen as part of his visit to Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts in the south of the country. The new facility, a joint investment of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and ElDan Atalyk, will employ 73 full-time workers and purchase large quantities of local crops. ElDan Atalyk already has plans this year to buy 4,200 tons of safflower, soybean and rapeseed from thousands of local farmers, the US Embassy in Bishkek reported.
This joint project is USAID’s largest investment in the development of Kyrgyzstan’s agriculture. USAID shared 20% of the total cost by investing $620,000 to set up the new edible oil processing line, bottling equipment, and equipment for garlic cleaning, sorting, grading, and packaging. ElDan Atalyk will work with more than 2,000 local farmers to grow garlic and oil crops such as safflower, sunflower, soya, and rapeseed to supply the facility. Together, USAID and ElDan Atalyk support the farmers in accessing seeds, machinery and expert advice to help grow high-quality produce.
Significantly boosting Kyrgyzstan’s processing capabilities, the facility can potentially supplant as much as 10% of the edible oil imported every year. At the moment, approximately 60% of the edible oil consumed in the country is imported.
This new facility is one of 50 partnerships implemented by the USAID’s Agro Horizon Project with local businesses in Batken, Jalal-Abad, Naryn, and Osh oblasts. USAID offers these examples as profitable and replicable models for business-led development of the regions. Together, these joint initiatives have leveraged Kyrgyzstani private sector commitments of over $30 million.
