Bishkek, Dec. 14, 2020 / Kabar /. Practical training for local farmers was held last week in Batken Oblast to improve their knowledge and skills on climate change. More than 150 farmers from seven municipalities of Batken, Leilek and Kadamjai regions took part in the three-day event.
Addressing climate change issuesensures a sustainable future for the country's region in the interests of Kyrgyzstan's growing population, and at the heart of these efforts is addressing food security issues.
Batken Oblast is the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, where natural disasters are already affecting food production systems. The United Nations Development Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic with financial support from the Russian Federation implements activities to adapt agriculture to climate change and coordinate timely solutions to mitigate consequences.
“As part of this activity, a detailed capacity assessment of the pilot local self-government bodies and water users associations were held at the initial stage of the project, as well as other stakeholders, who provide relevant services to the population of Batken Oblast. Based on the assessment, a multi-modular curriculum was developed to fill the knowledge gap, serve as a basis for transformative changes in the actions of local people and support the development of local capacities to adapt to climate change,”explained project coordinator Kylychev Kumar.
The training was focused on theoretical and practical exercises for the use of agrometeorological information and forecasts to reduce climate risks in agriculture and for effective irrigation approaches in this low-moisture region. In addition, the curriculum included protecting the population and irrigation infrastructure in the event of climate change emergencies as well as promoting climate smart agriculture and water management for pilot local communities in Batken Oblast. All training materials were prepared in partnership and direct participation of Kyrgyzhydromet employees, relevant departments of the Ministry of Emergency Situation, local self-government bodies, Water user’s associationsand farmers' experiences. Currently, with the support of the UNDP-TFD Project, 40 farmers use drip irrigation systems on more than 80 hectares of irrigated land and 7 sections of canals were repaired in 7 municipalities of Batken Oblast. Drip irrigation recipients shared their experiences in the field-based part of the training.
“Such trainings improve our qualifications, we received a lot of information, gained new skills, learned more about the benefits of using drip irrigation and other technologies available to us whichdo not require large investments. We have also exchanged experiences on adaptation to climate change and weather irregularities with experts and colleagues from other regions. In my opinion, it is necessary to conduct such trainings more often for active experience exchange,” said participant of the training farmer D. Zhalilov.
According to the organizers of training events, gender aspect was also considered when developing training materials and conducting the training.
“Women tend to be more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to disadvantage when accessing and managing natural resources especially in rural areas, increasing poverty and reducing adaptive capacity to climate change. That is why we encouragedfemale farmers to take part in this training,” said expert Daurbek Sakiyev.
In the long term, the knowledge gained by farmers will allow them to apply modern and affordable technologies in agriculture, increase yields and reduce losses, strengthen and protect infrastructure facilities from extreme disasters, which will ultimately increase their resilience and adaptive capacity to the effects of climate change.
This activity is carried out within the framework of the project "Strengthening Climate Resilience of Batken Oblast through the Implementation of Climate Smart Irrigation and Mudflow Protection Systems" funded by the Russian Federation and implemented by UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic in cooperation with national partners. The project is part of the implementation of the national plan for adaptation to the impacts of climate change in the Kyrgyz Republic and aims to increase resilience and reduce losses from climate change in target agricultural communities of Batken Oblast, which is the most vulnerable to climate change impacts in Kyrgyzstan.
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