Citrus seedlings imported from Turkey have been planted in southern Kyrgyzstan as part of an experimental initiative to evaluate their adaptability to the local climate. The Ministry of Agriculture is conducting the trial with a view to diversifying the country’s agricultural output and introducing high-value crops.
The seedlings, mandarin, orange, olive, and kunkuvat (a variety of orange), were delivered by ministry specialists for test cultivation. According to Minister of Agriculture Bakyt Torobaev, the trials are being carried out in the Batken region, where agroclimatic conditions are considered most suitable for heat-loving crops.
“If the seedlings take root successfully, local farmers will attempt to scale up cultivation and expand citrus production to other parts of southern Kyrgyzstan,” Torobaev said.
Bakyt Mambetov, Director of the Department of Agricultural Crops and Horticulture, added that the aim of the trials is to evaluate the plants’ resilience to climatic and soil conditions, as well as their productivity and resistance to diseases and pests. “If the results are positive, these crops will be recommended for both farm-level and private garden cultivation, to meet domestic demand and create export opportunities,” he said.
Mambetov emphasized that introducing such crops could significantly boost the profitability of Kyrgyz horticulture and expand the country’s agricultural export potential.
This is not the ministry’s first citrus initiative. Several years ago, Tashkent lemons were successfully cultivated in the mountainous northern regions of Kyrgyzstan, with the first harvest yielding promising results.
