AFC’s presence in Central Asia

It is not only the number of projects or the diversity of donors that makes Central Asia so special for us, it is above all the range of work fields that are covered. In Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, all working areas of AFC play an important role (learn more about them in our Newsletter: AFC Worldwide 2022 by AFC Agriculture & Finance Consultants - Issuu). The selected project examples point out our manifold fields of competence.  

 
By providing working-capital finance and by increasing the availability of long-term investment finance for agricultural equipment and machinery, the KfW-funded project “Value Chain Agro Finance” focuses on enhanced food value chain competitiveness in Tajikistan. The project supports selected value chains of agri-food products in a sustainable way and promotes the use of good agricultural practices. Furthermore, in Tajikistan the World Bank-funded project “Grant Management Company”, which concentrates on the disbursement of grants and matching grants in the agricultural and tourism sector, shows how both the financial and the agricultural background of AFC are relevant. The same applies in the BMEL-funded project “German-Kazakh Agricultural Political Dialogue (APD)” – politicians and managerial staff of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture in Kazakhstan are being advised in the fields of agricultural policy, agricultural finance and organic farming.  

In Kyrgyzstan, AFC implemented the GIZ and SDC co-funded “Sustainable Economic Development Programme” from October 2016 to February 2021. After successful implementation and being renamed to “Green Economy for Sustainable Private Sector Development” programme, the cooperation entered into the second phase in April 2021. AFC’s contribution comprises value chain development activities in the areas of early vegetables in the low-lying hot sub-tropical climate of Burgondu, organic prunes in the mountainous area of Aksy at around 1,500m altitude, and rice in low lying areas of Batken. These activities aim at increasing income and generating employment, especially for women and youth.  

Since April 2021, AFC supports the project “Value chain promotion in Livestock and Tourism” under the umbrella of the same GIZ programme. Especially the livestock sector is an important economic factor in Kyrgyzstan. Increasing livestock numbers lead to large overgrazed pasture resources. The aim of the project is to promote a more effective use of the pastures. Therefore, AFC facilitates the import of Aberdeen Angus bulls and cows, which are significantly more efficient in converting fodder into meat than local breeds are able to. Thus, fewer animals are required for the same output. In the long run, this will not only relieve the pressure on pastures, but will also have a positive effect on methane emissions, as fewer animals produce less gas. In addition, AFC improves environmental aspects of the tourism sector.  

In Uzbekistan, two new GIZ projects were kicked-off in the end of 2021, one in the field of organic agriculture and one in promoting agricultural cooperatives.  

Our contact person for projects in Central Asia in the area of Agriculture is Nina Thurn (ninakristin.thurn [at] afci.de). For projects in the area of Financial Sector Development, please contact Sigitas Bubnys (sigitas.bubnys [at] afci.de). If you have any questions about our expertise or projects, don’t hesitate to get in touch.