Kyrgyzstan is a remote, mountainous country in Central Asia, with a large portion of its population living in rural areas where livestock farming is the primary source of income. Towards the end of the 20th century, there was a shift in agriculture from the sustainable system of nomadic grazing and transhumance that had existed for thousands of years, and much of the traditional knowledge of livestock farming was lost. With relatively low productivity, the Kyrgyz livestock sector has long struggled to recover. While overgrazing continues near village pastures, remote pastures suffer from undergrazing. ATA identified that these underused pastures represent a significant opportunity for expanding the livestock sector, with potential increases in beef, mutton, and milk production of over 50% for the first two, and up to 70% for milk.

For a private industry partner, ATA has developed a comprehensive project for modern sustainable cattle breeding, including stable facilities based on Austrian technology, the planned equipment included mechanization for feed production, pasture and fodder management as well as logistical equipment.

Overcoming challenges such as limited arable and irrigated land for food and fodder production and the deterioration of pastureland is a crucial factor in Kyrgyzstan’s ability to restore its position as an exporter of high-quality livestock products on the international market in the long term.