Central Asia Agricultural Hotspot Tracker (Issue 12, 2026)
Issue 12
Kazakhstan
1. Over 42 million tonnes of livestock feed stockpiled for winter
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural enterprises in Kazakhstan have stockpiled more than 42 million tonnes of livestock feed for the winter. Stocks of hay and silage both exceed planned targets, laying the foundation for adequate feed supplies to the livestock sector throughout the winter.
According to local government data, agricultural producers have laid in more than 42 million tonnes of various types of livestock feed. Specifically, 26.9 million tonnes of hay were harvested, or 104.8% of the target. In addition, 2.3 million tonnes of silage (99.4% of target), 2.9 million tonnes of silage (101.8% of target), 4.9 million tonnes of straw (103.4% of target) and 5.5 million tonnes of concentrated animal feed (95.8% of target) were produced.
Output of the main types of livestock feed exceeded planned targets, which helps build additional reserves and enables livestock enterprises to withstand the possible impact of severe weather in the coming winter, the Ministry of Agriculture said. Farms have also retained 3.6 million tonnes of livestock feed left over from the previous wintering period. These reserves will also be used to meet the needs of the livestock sector.
Source: Kazinform (Казинформ) | Date: 2026-10-16
2. Sunflower oil, flour and flaxseed exports surge
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan is increasing exports of agricultural products. Export revenue from sunflower oil, flour and other products rose sharply in the first eight months of this year. Kazakhstan is expanding exports of agricultural raw materials and their processed products. Of particular note, exports of certain product types grew significantly faster than overall exports.
Sunflower oil stands out in particular. From January to August this year, export revenue rose 48.5% to USD 672.8 million, while export volume grew 35.9% to 611,400 tonnes. Last year Kazakhstan ranked among the world's six largest sunflower oil exporters and held the position of second-largest supplier to the Chinese market. Kazakhstan also became one of the three largest exporters of sunflower meal to the European Union and China. At the same time, Kazakhstan met most of the demand for these products in the Central Asian countries.
The grain sector also showed rapid growth. Wheat exports rose 26.5% to USD 1.25 billion. More than 5.5 million tonnes of grain were exported, up 13.8% year on year. Exports of deep-processed grain products are also growing. Export revenue from wheat and wheat-rye flour increased 36% to USD 400 million, while export volumes of these products rose 22.8% to 1.38 million tonnes.
Flaxseed is another commodity with a high export growth rate. Over the past eight months, its export value rose 2.3-fold to USD 387.8 million. At the same time, flaxseed export volume rose 2.5-fold to 780,800 tonnes. Exports of finished animal feed also grew, by 60.8% to USD 577.6 million, while product sales volume rose 44.2%. Total exports of sunflower oil, sunflower meal and prepared animal feed reached USD 1.65 billion. Compared with the same period last year, export revenue from these three product categories rose 48%.
Source: Kazinform (Казинформ) | Date: 2026-10-18
3. Cotton fabric output grows 3.4-fold in first nine months
According to data published by the National Bureau of Statistics, cotton fabric output reached 4.47 million square metres in January-September this year, 3.4 times the level of the same period last year. Imported products nonetheless still account for a large share of the domestic market, at 88.5%.
The data show that in the first nine months of 2026 Kazakhstan's cotton fabric output grew 3.4-fold year on year, with production concentrated mainly in the cities of Almaty and Shymkent. On imports, from January to August 2026 Kazakhstan imported 30.6267 million square metres of cotton fabric, accounting for 88.5% of total market resources; over the same period domestic cotton fabric accounted for 11.5%. The domestic market remains the main sales market for cotton fabric. From January to August 2026, domestic sales of cotton fabric reached 34.3627 million square metres, or 99.2% of total use; exports amounted to 287,500 square metres.
Source: KazTAG (КазТАГ) | Date: 2026-10-30
4. Grain harvest reaches 24.3 million tonnes, one of the highest in 15 years
With the 2026 harvest season complete, Kazakhstan harvested a total of 24.3 million tonnes of grain, one of the highest levels in the past 15 years and lower only than the two previous record years. The result confirms the high production potential of the country's agro-industrial complex and the contribution of agricultural producers to national food security.
Harvest quality was also notable. According to preliminary data, about 72% of the soft wheat delivered to storage reached class 3, and 48% of the tested samples had a gluten content above 28%. In Akmola Region, class 3 wheat accounted for 90% and Hi-Pro class wheat for 70%.
Exports continue to grow. In the past two marketing years, Kazakhstan exported 15.5 million tonnes and 16 million tonnes of grain and flour (in grain equivalent), the highest on record since independence. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy data, grain exports from September to 19 October 2026 amounted to 1.657 million tonnes, up 9%.
Production inputs continue to increase. Mineral fertiliser application has nearly tripled over the past three years, reaching 1.8 million tonnes in 2025; the 2026 target is 2.3 million tonnes, and 2.1 million tonnes have been applied so far. Improved seed (elite seed) accounts for 12%.
More than 130,000 tractors, 29,000 combine harvesters, 17,000 swathers and about 130,000 other agricultural machines were deployed for the 2026 harvest. Thanks to continuous renewal of agricultural machinery in 2023-2025, the machinery ageing rate fell from 85% to 65%, and the renewal rate is planned to rise to 8% in 2026. Since the preferential leasing programme was introduced, agricultural entities have purchased more than 12,700 tractors and 2,340 combine harvesters, about 10% of the country's total stock of tractors and combine harvesters.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan | Date: 2026-10-30
5. Grain deep-processing capacity targeted at 5.8 million tonnes a year by 2029
At a government meeting, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov reported on grain deep processing, livestock development and sales of agricultural products. The government plans to implement six large grain deep-processing projects by 2029, with annual raw material processing capacity of 5.8 million tonnes and products including starch, gluten, bioethanol and amino acids. Three existing enterprises in the country currently have a combined annual raw material processing capacity of 510,000 tonnes.
Project construction and industrial support are advancing together: the Kazkrahmal plant in Turkestan Region was commissioned this year, and the first phase of the Fufeng Group project in Zhambyl Region has been completed. The government proposes to combine budget funds with commercial funds to provide long-term concessional financing for agriculture, and to support investment projects and domestic production of tractors and combine harvesters through development finance and agricultural machinery financing channels.
On livestock, the government will continue to promote the experience of building dairy farms in North Kazakhstan Region and plans to bring commissioned farms gradually up to design capacity; 71 farms due to reach full capacity next year have total capacity of 462,000 tonnes, and there is a project pipeline of 21 further dairy farms with combined capacity of 228,000 tonnes. On meat production, six full-chain meat clusters are being advanced, and a large livestock trading market is planned in Turkestan Region.
Source: Prime Minister of Kazakhstan | Date: 2026-10-29
Kyrgyzstan
1. Temporary potato import restrictions in force until 1 March 2027
On 16 October 2026, First Deputy Prime Minister Amangeldiev signed Resolution No. 696, imposing temporary restrictions on potato imports until 1 March 2027, covering tariff line 0701 90 500 0 of the Eurasian Economic Union nomenclature.
The measure comes against a background of ample domestic potato supply. Potato output in the country is expected to reach about 1.25 million tonnes in 2026, while annual domestic demand is about 800,000 tonnes, leaving a large surplus after domestic needs are met. With the harvest season under way and local supply sufficient, the main purpose of restricting imports is to protect the incomes of domestic farmers and stabilise domestic market prices.
In terms of legal basis, the restriction is not a blanket ban. The resolution states that transit shipments, goods already dispatched and research use are not covered; the measure must also comply with Article 29 of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, which permits trade restrictions where public health or national security is at stake, giving it a legal basis within the union framework.
Source: Kabar (Кабар) | Date: 2026-10-16
2. Gross agricultural output reaches 399.5 billion som in Q1–Q3, up 6.5%
On 23 October 2026, at the opening of the AgroTechExpo-2026 agricultural technology exhibition, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Akunbekov announced that gross agricultural output reached 399.5 billion som in the first three quarters of 2026, up 6.5% year on year, pointing to steady expansion in the agricultural sector.
Behind the growth is a simultaneous expansion of processing capacity and industrial platforms. In the first three quarters, processing output reached 92.7 billion som, with the physical volume index at 109.4%; over the same period, 75 new large and medium-sized enterprises, 9 trade and logistics centres, 65 agricultural cooperatives and 22 agricultural machinery stations were established, markedly raising the degree of industrial organisation.
Policy support has also been stepped up. In the first nine months, 10,453 agricultural operators received concessional loans totalling 12.537 billion som; state agricultural support programmes were expanded from 2 to 8, significantly broadening coverage. Under the plan, Kyrgyzstan also aims to raise the share of raw material processing to 25%, double agricultural exports and install drip irrigation on 60,000 hectares.
Source: Kabar (Кабар) | Date: 2026-10-23
3. State backs firms in tapping EU and UAE fruit and berry markets
Kyrgyzstan's national "Kyrgyz Export" development and promotion centre announced the launch of the "Fruit, Berry and Vegetable Export Accelerator" project, focused on the EU and UAE markets and aimed at strengthening the international competitiveness of the country's fruit and vegetable industry. The project is part of the "Made in Kyrgyzstan" 2025–2028 national export programme and is implemented under the Cabinet's 2026 action plan.
The project plans to support 15 small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in growing and quick-freezing fruit, berries and vegetables. During implementation, experts will assess the enterprises' production facilities, sanitary and hygiene systems and readiness for international certification, identify gaps against the requirements of the relevant markets, and prepare tailored food safety documentation packages for each enterprise, covering hygiene management, water quality control, waste handling, product traceability, storage conditions and temperature control.
The project will also provide guidance on international standards, product safety, production control, packaging and labelling, logistics and export documentation, as well as advice on EU and Middle East market access requirements and liaison with certification bodies. The project is scheduled to run from November to December 2026.
Source: Kyrgyz news portal | Date: 2026-10-17
Uzbekistan
1. Uzbekistan and Egypt deepen agricultural cooperation
A delegation from Egypt's Agricultural Research Center met with the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The two sides focused on implementing joint projects in agriculture, livestock breeding and veterinary medicine, strengthening cooperation between research institutions and introducing advanced practical experience.
The two sides discussed prospects for exchanging experience on food security, water resources management and environmental protection. The talks paid particular attention to raising the efficiency of livestock farms, improving the quality of dairy and meat products and developing sheep breeding. They also examined proposals to expand pasture area in Kashkadarya region and to bring idle land into agricultural production.
UzAgroStar Holding presented its projects and development plans, and the two sides held consultations on mutually beneficial cooperation projects in agriculture. A memorandum of understanding on cooperation was signed at the end of the meeting.
Source: UzA (УзА) | Date: 2026-10-26
2. Agricultural output up 4.6% in first nine months
Preliminary data from Uzbekistan's State Statistics Committee show that gross output of agriculture, forestry and fisheries rose 4.6% year on year in January-September 2026 to 465.3 trillion soum, driven by higher crop and livestock production.
Crop farming, livestock, hunting and related services accounted for the largest share of the sector's output, at 416.3 trillion soum combined; forestry output totalled 41.3 trillion soum and fisheries 7.7 trillion soum. Output of crop farming, livestock and related services was up 4.7% on January-September 2025; forestry rose 5% and fisheries 1.2%.
The State Statistics Committee said the 2026 statistical calculations incorporated the results of the national population and agriculture census conducted as of 15 January 2026. The census was organised under presidential decree No. UP-173 of 19 September 2025.
Growth in agriculture, forestry and fisheries varied across regions: Syrdarya region grew fastest at 7.8%; Namangan region 6.2%, Surkhandarya region 5.7%, Jizzakh region 5.1% and Kashkadarya region 4.9%; the Republic of Karakalpakstan 3.6%, Andijan region 3.8%, Fergana region 3.9%, and Tashkent region and Khorezm region 4% each.
In absolute terms, Tashkent region had the highest agriculture, forestry and fisheries output at 53.8 trillion soum in the first nine months; Samarkand region 53.3 trillion soum, Kashkadarya region 46.2 trillion soum, Surkhandarya region 43.3 trillion soum and Fergana region 41.7 trillion soum; Bukhara region 39.2 trillion soum and Andijan region 39.1 trillion soum; Jizzakh region 35.2 trillion soum, Namangan region 32 trillion soum, Khorezm region 27.8 trillion soum and Navoi region 19.7 trillion soum; the Republic of Karakalpakstan 18.5 trillion soum and Syrdarya region 15.5 trillion soum.
In January-September 2026, gross crop and livestock output totalled 410.6 trillion soum, up 4.6% year on year. Crop output was 203 trillion soum, up 6.9%, and livestock output 207.6 trillion soum, up 2.1%. Samarkand region had the highest agricultural output at 46.6 trillion soum, followed by Tashkent region at 44.6 trillion soum, Kashkadarya region at 42.6 trillion soum and Surkhandarya region at 40.9 trillion soum. Syrdarya region had the lowest agricultural output at 13.3 trillion soum, followed by the Republic of Karakalpakstan at 14.2 trillion soum and Navoi region at 17.9 trillion soum.
Syrdarya region had the fastest growth in agricultural output in the country at 9%; Namangan region 6.6% and Surkhandarya region 5.6%; Samarkand region grew 3.4%, and Tashkent region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan 3.7% each. Dehkan farms and household farms remained the largest producers, contributing 62.3% of total output; commercial farms accounted for 26.7% and agricultural enterprises for 11%.
In the first nine months of 2026, grain output totalled 9.9 million tonnes, up 16.3% year on year; potatoes 3.56 million tonnes, up 6.6%; vegetables 10.8 million tonnes, up 3.6%; melons 2.87 million tonnes, fruit and berries 3.31 million tonnes and grapes 1.8 million tonnes, up 4.5%, 4.1% and 4.6% respectively. Among the main crops, grain posted the highest growth at 16.3%, followed by raw cotton at 11.8% and potatoes at 6.6%.
Grain output: Kashkadarya region ranked first with 1.03 million tonnes; Jizzakh region 977,300 tonnes, Samarkand region 973,500 tonnes and Surkhandarya region 966,200 tonnes. Potato output: Samarkand region was highest with 935,000 tonnes; Namangan region 344,000 tonnes, Fergana region 339,900 tonnes and Andijan region 328,400 tonnes. Vegetable output: Samarkand region led with 1.79 million tonnes; Fergana region 1.35 million tonnes, Andijan region 1.33 million tonnes and Surkhandarya region 1.08 million tonnes.
Structure of grain production: commercial farms contributed 70.6%, dehkan and household farms 14.1% and agricultural enterprises 15.3%. Potatoes came mainly from household farms at 68.6%; commercial farms 27.7% and agricultural enterprises 3.7%. Vegetable production: dehkan and household farms 60.6%, commercial farms 33.4% and agricultural enterprises 6%. Melons, fruit and grapes likewise came mainly from dehkan and household farms.
In January-September 2026, livestock output totalled 207.6 trillion soum, up 2.1% year on year. Samarkand region had the highest livestock output at 24.35 trillion soum; Kashkadarya region 23.68 trillion soum and Tashkent region 22.38 trillion soum; Surkhandarya region 19.82 trillion soum and Bukhara region 19.36 trillion soum; Syrdarya region had the lowest livestock output at 4.72 trillion soum, the Republic of Karakalpakstan 7.39 trillion soum and Navoi region 11.85 trillion soum.
Fergana region had the fastest growth in livestock output at 3.9%, Namangan region 3.7%, Tashkent region 2.5% and Surkhandarya region 2.1%. Meat output (live weight) was 1.92 million tonnes, up 2.1% year on year; milk output 7.38 million tonnes, up 1.7%; eggs 7.48 billion, up 7.5%; wool 32,200 tonnes, up 6.2%; karakul pelts 938,000, up 7.2%; and fish catch 270,800 tonnes, up 5.8%.
Dehkan farms and household farms remain the main suppliers of meat and milk, accounting for 78.3% of meat output in live weight and 87.9% of raw milk output; commercial farms contributed 8.6% of meat and 9.3% of milk, and agricultural enterprises 13.1% and 2.8% respectively.
Egg production was relatively evenly distributed: dehkan and household farms 46.7%, agricultural enterprises 35.9% and commercial farms 17.4%. Of wool, 74.3% and of karakul pelts 66.8% came from dehkan farms and household farms; commercial farms accounted for 16% of wool and 17.1% of pelts, and agricultural enterprises 9.7% and 16.1% respectively.
Fisheries: dehkan and household farms accounted for 45.8%, agricultural enterprises 29.6% and commercial farms 24.6%.
Source: Uzbek business news portal | Date: 2026-10-30
3. White sugar imports capped at 300,000 tonnes a year; mills tax-exempt to 2031
From 1 January 2027, Uzbekistan will apply an annual quota of 300,000 tonnes to white sugar imports by food producers. The measure is set out in cabinet resolution No. 417 of 30 July 2026, which was classified for official use only and not published.
Under the resolution, the annual import quota is divided equally among three categories of food producers: beverage producers 100,000 tonnes, confectionery producers 100,000 tonnes and other food producers 100,000 tonnes. The government may revise the quota every six months, taking into account domestic consumption, capacity utilisation, import volumes and domestic market prices; the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Competition Committee and the State Statistics Committee will submit proposals on the quota size, and the government must approve the quota for the following year each November. From 1 January 2027, purchases by state bodies and state-owned enterprises must give priority to domestically produced white sugar, and the state sugar reserve will also buy from local producers, with all of their output sold through commodity exchanges.
Source: Uzbek digital news portal | Date: 2026-10-27
4. Export phytosanitary checks tightened, focus on truck cargo compartments
Uzbekistan's Agency for Plant Quarantine and Protection reported that since the start of 2026 the country has received 683 complaints from abroad that exported products failed to meet phytosanitary requirements. By origin of complaint, Russia accounted for 474, China for 198 and Kazakhstan for 8. The complaints mainly concerned the detection of pests in exported products.
In response, Uzbekistan will strengthen phytosanitary inspections of export vehicles, focusing on the condition of cargo compartments of vehicles used to transport goods abroad. The move is intended to reduce the risk of pests spreading with transport means and to improve quarantine management at the export stage.
The competent authority reminded exporters and carriers to strictly comply with the phytosanitary requirements of destination countries and to manage goods and transport means properly, so as to avoid shipment delays, rejection of goods or additional restrictive measures imposed by destination markets because of quarantine issues.
Source: Leading Uzbek business news outlet | Date: 2026-10-28
Tajikistan
1. Meat and milk output both rise in January-September
The Statistics Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan released data on October 21: in January-September 2026, farms of all types nationwide produced 227,932 tonnes of beef and mutton (live weight), up 14.7% on the same period of 2025, with positive growth in every major region — Sughd Region up 26.1%, Khatlon Region up 13.7%, districts of republican subordination up 4.6% and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region up 1.4%. Poultry meat output over the same period was 36,314 tonnes, up 5.9% year on year; of which Sughd Region accounted for 16,984 tonnes, Khatlon Region 8,819 tonnes, districts of republican subordination 10,439 tonnes and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region 72 tonnes.
In January-September 2026, national milk output was 770,436 tonnes, up 4.2% year on year; by region, Sughd Region rose 13%, the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region 1.2% and districts of republican subordination 0.6%. Over the same period, national egg output was 1,063.8 million eggs, up 3% year on year; Khatlon Region rose 8.7%, districts of republican subordination 5.1%, the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region 2.2% and Sughd Region 1.3%.
Source: Statistics Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan | Date: 2026-10-21
2. Agriculture tops 21% of GDP as H1 farm exports reach USD 40.5 million, up 19.7%
On October 22, Jumhuriyat (Ҷумҳурият), the government newspaper of Tajikistan, published an industry review citing Ministry of Agriculture data: agriculture accounts for more than 21% of national GDP and absorbs more than 61% of the labour force; the president said earlier that Tajik agricultural products are now exported to more than 30 countries worldwide.
On trade, according to data from the Export Agency under the President, Tajikistan's agricultural exports reached USD 40.5 million in the first half of 2026, an increase of USD 6.7 million, or 19.7%, over the same period of 2025; the products went to 21 countries, with 89% destined for CIS countries and 11% for non-CIS countries.
On production plans, the planned area for autumn-sown grain crops in 2026 is 192,253 hectares, spring-sown grain 81,786 hectares, industrial crops 213,306 hectares, potatoes 39,400 hectares, vegetables 44,219 hectares, legumes 19,350 hectares and fodder crops 21,535 hectares; seed enterprises have stockpiled 4,300 tonnes of cotton seed, 6,756 tonnes of wheat seed, 90 tonnes of barley seed, 14,063 tonnes of seed potatoes and 146 tonnes of rice seed.
On the sector's base, the country has 165,570 hectares of orchards and 36,435 hectares of vineyards; 177.6 hectares of permanent greenhouses and 4,017 hectares of seasonal greenhouses; 2.9 million head of large livestock (including 1.5 million dairy cows) and 13.1 million poultry; output of commercial fish was 2,002 tonnes and honey 718.3 tonnes; there are 234 poultry farms nationwide (142 in Sughd Region, 40 in Khatlon Region and 52 in districts of republican subordination and Dushanbe).
Source: Jumhuriyat (Ҷумҳурият) | Date: 2026-10-22
3. Tajikistan discusses farm investment and organic exports with development partners
On October 12, 2026, Tajik Minister of Agriculture Kurbon Hakimzoda met with representatives of development partners in Dushanbe. According to the Tajik Ministry of Agriculture, the two sides exchanged views on attracting agricultural investment, implementing joint projects and introducing international agricultural practices.
The talks focused on ensuring the supply of domestically produced agricultural products to the consumer market, raising agricultural production capacity and expanding exports of Tajik organic agricultural products to international markets. Participants also exchanged views on prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture and on opportunities to implement joint initiatives.
The meeting noted that climate change, natural disasters, constraints on land and water resources, volatility in international food markets, rising input costs and supply chain disruptions are affecting agricultural production and the stability of food systems. Given Tajikistan's relatively high dependence of agriculture on water resources, the meeting stressed the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural development, raising production efficiency, applying modern agricultural technologies and strengthening food security.
Source: Tajik information agency | Date: 2026-10-12
Turkmenistan
1. Land and water management planning under UNDP/GEF pilot framework
29 October 2026 — As part of the joint project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Turkmenistan's Ministry of Environmental Protection, "Conservation and Sustainable Management of Land Resources and High Nature Value Ecosystems in the Aral Sea Basin for Multiple Benefits", funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), practical workshops on drawing up plans for the sustainable management of land and water use were held on 23 and 28 October 2026, with sessions on pastures and irrigated land in pilot areas of the country.
The first workshop took place at the Turkmen Agricultural Institute in Dashoguz, the second at the Amu Darya State Nature Reserve in Sayat, Lebap Province. The two workshops brought together representatives of government agencies, local authorities, research and educational institutions and land users to share expertise and discuss practical solutions for sustainable land and water management.
The workshops were designed to strengthen the practical skills of government experts and local land users in sustainable land and water management. Participants were introduced to digital tools including geographic information systems (GIS) and CROPWAT software, which allow more accurate calculation of crop water requirements and more efficient irrigation planning. Particular attention went to raising forage productivity, preventing land degradation and helping agriculture adapt to climate change. Solutions discussed included restoring livestock watering points and planting desert vegetation to improve pasture conditions.
The workshops were co-organized by the Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) and the Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC). Cooperation among government agencies, the scientific community and land users supports an integrated approach to natural resource management, helps ease pressure on ecosystems in the Amu Darya basin and strengthens the region's long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
Source: UNDP | Date: 2026-10-29
2. Turkmenistan launches five-year agricultural climate resilience project for land restoration and water saving
Turkmenistan has launched a five-year agricultural climate resilience project, implemented jointly by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Green Climate Fund and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, with Charjew district in Lebap Province as the pilot. Farmland in the area adjoins protected natural areas and accounts for about one quarter of Lebap Province's agricultural output.
The project will combine agricultural production with ecological restoration: perennial fruit-tree shelterbelts will be planted around farmland to improve pollination conditions for crops and support beekeeping, and vegetation will be added along waterways to form natural barriers against salt-laden winds and dust. In its first year the project also plans to build a nursery at a local forestry enterprise and to select up to 30 landscape sample plots for environmental assessment.
The project plans land reclamation, soil desalination and plot levelling on farmland, and the introduction of drought-resistant crops and halophytes on abandoned and saline-alkali land. It will also install carbon-related indicators and air pollution monitoring equipment, and fit laser water meters on irrigation channels between fields to improve water metering and management capacity. The project will further revive farmer field schools and promote nature-based agricultural practices.
Source: Central Asia News | Date: 2026-10-28
Regional Agricultural Cooperation
1. Dwarf-rootstock apple, saline-alkali technologies take root in Central Asia
Shaanxi Province is advancing China-Central Asia agricultural exchanges through the Yangling SCO Agricultural Technology Exchange and Training Demonstration Base. A high-quality, simplified dwarf-rootstock apple cultivation technique developed by Professor Zhang Dong's team at Northwest A&F University enables apple trees to bear fruit in the second year after planting and reach full production in the fourth year, with yields exceeding 3,500 kg per mu. Professor Mao Jiangping, a core member of the team, said Kyrgyzstan previously imported apple saplings from Europe at more than 100 yuan each, while Chinese premium saplings now sell for just over 50 yuan each and ordinary saplings for just over 30 yuan. The team is raising seedlings locally, and the first batch of apple saplings bred in Kyrgyzstan will be ready for grafting and release next spring.
In Tajikistan, the Khujand branch of the China-Tajikistan Digital Agricultural Equipment Science and Technology Demonstration Park of Northwest A&F University was inaugurated in July 2024, jointly built by seven Tajik universities, government bodies and agribusinesses together with six Chinese institutions. Chief expert Yan Fengxin coordinated with a Chinese electric tricycle manufacturer to produce and market agricultural electric tricycles in Khujand, and helped bring in a fruit and vegetable processing line that mainly dries carrots and onions and slices potatoes, with products sold locally and in European markets.
In Kazakhstan, Northwest A&F University completed a China-Kazakhstan demonstration park for saline-alkali land remediation and efficient agricultural water use in 2024. The related technologies and products have been applied on more than 2,000 mu, raising maize yields by an average of more than 20% while saving more than 30% of water. More than 200 local agricultural officials and farm technicians have been trained, and 10 Chinese and Kazakh postgraduate students have been jointly cultivated with Kazakh National Agrarian University and Tajik Technical University. Since 2019, the Yangling base has held more than 100 technical training sessions at multiple levels, training more than 3,200 agricultural officials and technicians from SCO member states and countries and regions jointly building the Belt and Road, with more than 60,000 online participants.
Source: Xinhua News Agency | Date: 2026-10-27
2. 2026 SCO Agricultural Expo Kyrgyzstan field day held
On 17 October, the 2026 SCO Agricultural Expo Kyrgyzstan Field Day and an apple dwarf-cultivation technical training event were held at the China-Kyrgyzstan Apple Demonstration Park.
As the fourth stop of the overseas tour of the 2026 Yangling Agricultural High-Tech Fair (SCO Agricultural Expo), the Kyrgyzstan field event ran from 16 to 18 October and featured four segments: a display of Chinese apple dwarf-dense planting technology, promotion of commercial fruit quality, plant protection technical training, and extension of fruit-tree inputs and machinery. About 100 people attended in total, including more than 60 Kyrgyz fruit growers and enterprise representatives, 16 Chinese-invested enterprises in Kyrgyzstan and 8 enterprises from Shaanxi Province. Officials from relevant departments and bureaus of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Moscow District government of Chuy Region, the Jayil District government and the Karabalta city government attended.
The event introduced an innovative linkage model combining a comprehensive exhibition in Uzbekistan with on-site field displays in Kyrgyzstan. From 14 to 16 October, Yangling Modern Agriculture International Cooperation Group Co., Ltd. organised agricultural enterprises from Shaanxi to take part in the second China-Central Asia (Uzbekistan) Trade Exhibition held in Tashkent. The exhibition is a national-level platform for Central Asian economic and trade cooperation hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, with five major segments including smart manufacturing, green energy and agricultural cooperation, and exhibits covering complete equipment sets, photovoltaic storage, agricultural inputs and produce, among other fields. After the exhibition, the delegation travelled directly to Kyrgyzstan for the field event, linking comprehensive economic and trade exhibitions with the on-the-ground application of technologies overseas.
Source: China.org.cn | Date: 2026-10-23
3. EEC, SCO deepen agro-industrial cooperation as SCO states take about 35% of agri-food trade
Naira Karapetyan (Наира Карапетян), Director of the Agricultural Policy Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission, attended a series of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation events on modern agricultural development in Xianyang, China, including the Yangling Agricultural High-Tech Achievements Expo and an industry roundtable, where she briefed counterparts on cooperation among Eurasian Economic Union member states in ensuring the sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex.
"SCO countries are among our most important trade partners in agricultural products and food. Their share in total agricultural trade is about 35%. The main areas of agricultural cooperation and the institutional interaction mechanisms between SCO countries and EAEU countries coincide," Karapetyan noted.
During the meetings, the two sides exchanged views, experience and best practices on agriculture and sustainable agricultural development, stressing the need to promote new agricultural technologies and digitalisation and to work together to safeguard regional and global food security. During the visit, Karapetyan held working meetings with SCO Deputy Secretary-General T.R. Midkhun (Т.Р. Мидхун) and heads of delegations from SCO countries to discuss prospects for dialogue between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the SCO in agriculture and food security. At the industry exhibition, she also learned about modern research and development in agricultural machinery manufacturing and innovative technologies and solutions aimed at improving agricultural production efficiency.
The events were attended by representatives of SCO countries, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and other international organisations, as well as representatives of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce. Cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the SCO is carried out under a memorandum of understanding signed on 17 September 2021, with the agro-industrial complex one of the cooperation areas identified in the memorandum.
Source: Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) | Date: 2026-10-27
4. EEC revises meat technical regulation standards plan, adds nitrite and polyphosphate tests
At its meeting on 27 October, the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission amended the plan for developing transnational standards for the Customs Union technical regulation on the safety of meat and meat products.
The main changes were as follows. As GOST 35098-2024 "Casing products of cooked sausage type for children's food. Technical conditions" and GOST 35280-2025 "Meat pate for children's food. Technical conditions" have been developed and adopted, the corresponding provisions for developing these two standards were deleted from the plan. The plan added provisions for developing two standards, "Liver sausage. General technical conditions" and "Meat and meat products. Determination of nitrite and nitrate content. Continuous flow analysis (CFA) method", and added a provision to revise GOST ISO 5553-2013 "Meat and meat products. Detection of polyphosphates".
It also updated the development deadlines for three standards, "Meat and meat products. Methods for determining dispersion", "Meat products for children's food. Methods for determining rice and wheat flour" and "Food products. Determination of trace elements. Determination of mercury by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry with pressurised sample pre-digestion", and reclassified the standard for "Raw beef tallow, mutton fat and pork fat" from the "technical conditions" category to the "general technical conditions" category. In addition, it supplemented the basis for revising GOST 18157-88 "Products of livestock slaughter. Terms and definitions", and the basis for developing standards for "Fatty meat products. Technical conditions" and "Food products of animal origin and food raw materials. Enzyme immunoassay methods for antibacterial drugs". The amendments enter into force 30 calendar days after the official publication of the decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
Source: Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) | Date: 2026-10-27
Source compilation: Xinjiang Agricultural University Central Asia Research Center (WeChat public account «新疆农业大学中亚研究中心»). Follow that account on WeChat for updates.