Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan (August 6, 2009) – A greenhouse on citrus fruits growing was established in Sargata village of Toktogul rayon, Jalal-Abad oblast.  This was initiated by a group of women in Sargata village along with the entrepreneur, Alisa Nasyrynbekova, who leads the project.  This group is a member of a self-help group association in the village.  Having assessed the group capacity, the association developed a business plan and requested assistance from the UNDP Poverty Reduction Programme.  After the application has been considered, UNDP provided 127 200 KGS as a grant support, while the association contributed 99 500 KGS.

Previously, these women were unemployed and engaged with the household and gardening only.  Therefore, they already had experience in cultivation of agricultural crops.  Such experience and enterprise idea encouraged them to start a profitable business.  Currently, they grow not only citrus fruits in the greenhouse, but other vegetables demanded at the local market.  One of the members of SHG – Malika Yusupova, a former native of Tajikistan, used to work in a greenhouse and knows the process of growing lemons well. Women entrepreneurs use Malika’s experience in their business.  Establishing such a greenhouse for citrus fruits is a pilot one.  If there will be a good yield, the population of Sargata village and adjacent rayons will be provided with fruits and vegetables all year round.

At the moment, they are negotiating selling their products.  It is planned to supply the products to the market of nearby Kara-Kul town and to the construction workers at Kambar-Ata hydroelectric power station as well.

Currently, they planted lemon seedlings at the most part of the greenhouse area and cucumbers and various greens – at the rest part of it.  According to women entrepreneurs, the first lemon harvest will be gathered in a year.  Cultivation of this crop will enable to harvest in 1000-1500 kilos annually.  In spite of the problems related to adaptation and acclimatization of lemon seedlings, Alisa Nasyrynbekova and her colleagues believe in success of the business plan.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – is the UN global system in the development sphere, addressing to the positive changes in peoples’ life, providing the countries-members an access to the sources of knowledge, experience and resources. Our activity is on the territory of 166 countries, contributing to searching for the global and national issues in the development sphere. During the potential development process, the countries use an experience and skills of the UNDP staff and its partners’ community.

Learn more from Aida Mambetkulova at 996-312-653570 (105) and intern@prp.undp.kg