Kyrgyzstan Targets Food Self-Sufficiency by 2030

Kyrgyzstan aims to fully meet domestic demand for key food products through its own production by 2030. For now, the country produces enough potatoes, vegetables, and milk, but imports still cover close to half of its vegetable oil and wheat needs. The government presented its new targets on September 8. According to data for the first half of the year, potato production was almost twice the level of domestic demand, vegetable and melon production was more than double demand, and milk production exceeded domestic requirements by roughly a quarter. The picture is weaker elsewhere. Meat and eggs cover about four-fifths of demand, while flour products and sugar are closer to three-quarters. Domestic vegetable oil meets just 54% of demand, while the figure for fruit and berries is only around 16%. These figures sit awkwardly with claims made earlier in the year. In February, the Ministry of Agriculture said Kyrgyzstan was already self-sufficient in six of nine major food categories, including meat, sugar, and eggs, although its own figures put all three below 100%. Wheat remains particularly sensitive. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), imports cover nearly half of Kyrgyzstan’s wheat requirements for food consumption and the milling industry. In the 2025/26 marketing year, the country was expected to import around 350,000 tons of cereals, with wheat typically accounting for approximately 95% of cereal import requirements. Supplies come mainly from Russia and Kazakhstan, leaving domestic flour and bread prices exposed to harvests, grain prices, export policies, and logistics in both countries. The government plans to expand wheat and oilseed cultivation, establish new orchards, and increase the area of irrigated farmland. It has also called for proposals to expand citrus production. The authorities have also intervened directly in the meat market. After prices rose in 2025, the government imposed price caps on certain types of meat and extended the controls. It has also used temporary restrictions on livestock exports to increase supplies on the domestic market. In a 2024 strategy document, the International Fund for Agricultural Development estimated that Kyrgyzstan depended on imports for about 40% of its overall food requirements. Agriculture employs a significant share of the population, while most farms remain small family-run operations. Reaching the 2030 target will therefore require substantial increases in domestic production of wheat, vegetable oil, and fruit within the next four years.

Livestock Numbers Are Growing in Kyrgyzstan as Authorities Expand Pasturelands

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.