New FAO project aims to transform Kyrgyzstan’s fish sector. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan and international partners, has launched a new initiative to strengthen the country’s aquaculture sector, bringing together key actors in Bishkek for a high-level inception workshop under the project Sustainable Fish Value Chains for Landlocked Developing Countries (SVC4LLDCs).
Funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, the project aims to boost the sustainability, productivity and competitiveness of fish value chains in Kyrgyzstan, with a particular focus on rainbow trout and carp – two species identified as having strong potential for growth and income generation.
The workshop gathered representatives from government institutions, the private sector, academia and development partners to review the initial findings of a comprehensive value chain analysis and define priority actions for the sector’s development.
“Aquaculture holds significant potential for improving food security, creating jobs and supporting rural livelihoods,” said Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan. “This new project reflects our commitment to work with national partners to unlock that potential through sustainable and inclusive value chain development.”
FAO experts presented preliminary results covering market opportunities, regulatory frameworks and sustainability performance across the trout and carp value chains. Participants engaged in dynamic discussions to validate the findings, identify key bottlenecks and agree on priority areas for future investment and interventions. The programme also introduced approaches for building multistakeholder partnerships and facilitated participatory sessions to rank strategic priorities for upgrading the sector.
“Our analysis looks beyond production to understand how the entire value chain functions, from inputs and farming practices to processing and market access,” said Thomas Shipton, FAO Senior Aquatic Value Chain Expert. “By identifying constraints and opportunities across the chain, we can support more efficient, resilient and competitive aquaculture systems.”
The initiative builds on FAO’s longstanding work in Kyrgyzstan to support the revival and modernisation of the aquaculture sector. Over the years, FAO has contributed to strengthening fish production systems, improving the technical capacities of farmers and institutions, and promoting more sustainable resource management practices. These efforts have helped lay the foundation for renewed growth in aquaculture, which remains a priority sector for enhancing food security, rural livelihoods and economic diversification.
Strengthening collaboration for a more competitive sector
Despite positive progress, challenges remain in areas such as access to quality inputs, processing and value addition, market linkages, and environmental sustainability. The new project responds to these challenges by taking a holistic value chain approach, from production to processing and marketing, while promoting innovation and closer collaboration among relevant actors.
A key outcome of the inception workshop was broad consensus on the need to establish a strong multistakeholder partnership to guide the next phase of the project. Participants highlighted the importance of coordinated action to unlock investment opportunities, improve competitiveness and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources.
“By improving how fish moves from farms to markets, this initiative will help unlock new opportunities for producers, strengthen value addition and support the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the aquaculture sector in Kyrgyzstan,” said Jalilbek Toimatov, Director of the Department of the Fisheries Industry Complex under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan.
The inputs gathered during the workshop will inform the development of targeted upgrading strategies for trout and carp value chains, which will be implemented in close cooperation with national authorities and partners.
As a landlocked country with abundant water resources, Kyrgyzstan has significant untapped potential for aquaculture development. By strengthening fish value chains, the project aims to increase incomes for producers and businesses, create jobs in rural areas and contribute to more resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
Image: ©FAO/ Vyacheslav Oseledko