Spring fieldwork has begun in Kyrgyzstan, including the sowing of wheat and barley and efforts to expand the forage base for livestock farming. The Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry has also started planting pastures with forage crops. Myktybek Kalandarov, head of the Department of Breeding Livestock Production, confirmed the work in an interview on state radio.
Kalandarov said that approximately 15,000 hectares of pastureland have already been sown with forage crops this year. A further 10,000 hectares of high-altitude pastures were planted in the autumn. Authorities plan to continue expanding pasture resources, with another 10,000 hectares scheduled for planting in the coming months.
About $570,000 has been allocated in 2026 to support these measures. Kalandarov added that revenue generated from pasture use should be reinvested in their restoration and development.
“Revenue comes from payments for pasture use, about $0.23 per sheep or goat grazed and approximately $1.15 per cow,” he said.
The increase in pasture investment is linked to rising livestock numbers. According to data from the National Statistical Committee, the country’s total livestock population has grown by 6.6% over the past five years.
As of the end of 2025, farms across all categories had approximately 1.8 million cattle, a 1.7% increase compared with the previous year. The number of sheep and goats reached 6.3 million, up 0.8%.
Positive trends have also been recorded in horse breeding, poultry farming, pig farming, and yak breeding.
Agricultural sector representatives say growing demand for animal feed is influencing crop patterns. Zakir Koombayev, director of a farm in the Chui Region, told The Times of Central Asia that farmers are increasingly diversifying their forage crops.
“Previously, we mainly planted spring crops such as wheat and barley. Now, given the growth in livestock numbers, we have ordered feed corn seeds from southern Russia,” he said.
Experts note that the future development of livestock farming in Kyrgyzstan will largely depend on effective pasture management and the sustainability of the country’s feed base.
