Project Description
USAID Agro Trade Activity is a five-year project designed to enhance job creation and bolster the incomes of Kyrgyz farmers and agribusinesses. The initiative focuses on fortifying value chains to stimulate regional and cross-border trade, particularly in southern Kyrgyzstan’s Batken, Jalal-Abad, and Osh oblasts.
By providing grant funding, technical assistance, and improving the business environment, the activity aims to generate job opportunities, especially for women, youth, and marginalized groups. It also strives to empower these groups by addressing constraints such as limited knowledge, weak marketing networks, and gender-based violence, thus fostering economic growth and stability in the region.
Employing a market systems development approach, Agro Trade Activity aims to bring about sustainable changes in the agricultural sector. By concentrating on enhancing market systems rather than offering direct assistance, the project seeks to create lasting impacts. Through this approach, the project identifies and rectifies market failures and inefficiencies that hinder the growth of agricultural value chains.
Since its inception in 2020, the activity has achieved significant milestones. The project successfully engaged the private sector, establishing 27 partnerships through various mechanisms. This effort resulted in over $7.1 million (86 percent of total investments) million in private sector investments, a production expansion of up to 92%, and the creation of over 4,000 new jobs.
Additionally, over 8,000 individuals have attended training sessions aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and sales, benefiting more than 200 agricultural enterprises. The project has also supported the establishment of 15 cold storage facilities, doubling the region’s cold storage capacity and reducing product spoilage by 40%.
Agro Trade Activity has also played a pivotal role in promoting cross-border trade and business linkages. By sponsoring the participation of Kyrgyz and Uzbek agribusinesses in international forums and exhibitions, the project has facilitated the signing of 60 export agreements and contracts valued at around $9 million. These efforts have resulted in the sale of Kyrgyz food products worth $16 million, including $12.2 million for export.
Moreover, the project actively supports initiatives aimed at promoting equal opportunities for women and youth. By conducting awareness campaigns and implementing business acceleration programs, the project has empowered over 8,000 women and youth in southern Kyrgyzstan. Overall, the project has positively impacted over 10,000 rural households, paving the way for further activities aimed at enhancing job creation, empowering women and youth, strengthening value chains, and promoting cross-border trade in Kyrgyzstan.
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