Kyrgyz Authorities Push for Expanded Winter Wheat Cultivation

more stable incomes for farmers, while year-round demand for high-quality grain provides additional incentives for cultivation. “The vegetation period of winter crops begins earlier, allowing farmers to harvest ahead of spring crops and, if necessary, secure a second harvest. This boosts agribusiness revenue. Autumn sowing also benefits from higher soil moisture, which ensures better germination and deeper plant rooting,” the ministry stated. President Sadyr Japarov has previously criticized Kyrgyzstan’s reliance on wheat imports, noting that the country currently produces only 40 percent of its domestic wheat needs. The remaining 60 percent is met through imports. During the Soviet era, Kyrgyzstan produced up to 1.5 million tons of wheat annually, exceeding its domestic demand of 1 million tons. The ministry emphasized that winter wheat cultivation has steadily declined since the early 2000s, when farmers began relying more on imported grain from Kazakhstan and later Russia. As ...