At the initial stage of the project, an analysis of national policies and main factors on the use of elements of integrated natural resources management (INRM) was carried out. Furthermore, work on incorporating the concept of INRM into the agricultural development strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the management of land, water and forest resources was conducted.
Improving the management capacity of government officials and expanding the use of new approaches and technologies to combat degradation of arid and saline agricultural lands and to manage natural resources.
Result 1 - national documents on drought control measures and preparation of the country in case of this climatic phenomenon were developed and updated.
Result 2 - joint work with the specialists of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Kyrgyz Republic to identify and assess the problems of desertification, land degradation and drought, as well as mapping for evidence-based decision-making. To implement this task, the project increased the capacity of the staff within the Ministry and related structures in mastering new approaches and technologies in the field of sustainable land management. More than 100 specialists participated in 5 national workshops to learn tools developed by FAO to prevent and mitigate land degradation processes, such as:
1. Aqua Crop - a model that examines the productivity of the irrigation system;
2. SHARP, a tool to assess the resilience of agriculture to climate change;
3. EXACT, an agricultural carbon balance assessment tool;
4. Collect Earth-a tool to develop drought vulnerability maps using satellite technology
Result 3 - training of local communities to develop pasture management plans adapted to climate change became project-based. In the pilot Kochkor district (Naryn oblast), trainings were conducted where local farmers and livestock breeders developed a pasture management plan and assessed the resilience of their farms to climate fluctuations using the SHARP tool.
For communities of aiyl aimags Cholpon, Kokzhar, Sarybulak, Talaabulak, Koshdobo, specialists of PF "CAMP Alatoo" conducted training on the use of soil and water conservation technologies. In addition to theoretical knowledge, residents had the opportunity to prepare mini-projects, which were funded under the project. These are rehabilitation and construction of pasture infrastructure as part of adaptation measures to climate change.
Farmers of Kochkor district were also supported by the project. According to the results of the study of value added chains (VAC) of local agricultural products specialists of PF "CAMP Alatoo" and experts determined that the development of meat and dairy cattle and potato production is a priority for the area. In order to increase the forage base and reduce the pressure on pastures, experts developed a DDS funding mechanism and proposed it to farmers. The idea was to establish several demonstration plots in the rayon to cultivate barley, alfalfa and sainfoin from high-quality seeds using advanced technologies. Farmers received seeds of these crops from the project.
Another result was the creation of a raion Commission for Strengthening Cross-Sector Coooperation in Natural Resources Management to address local problems related to land degradation, poor irrigation networks, shortage of irrigation water, salinization and swamping of lands and disturbed grazing conditions. This public body included representatives of state and district authorities, farms, civil organizations, and entrepreneurs.
