KREI outlines tailored ODA strategies for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

Kyrgyzstan to prioritize insulation and solar heat; Tajikistan to focus on low-power mini-greenhouses

Uzbekistan to adopt three-tier greenhouse model; smart irrigation a shared challenge for all three

Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]
Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

When rolling out Korean-style smart farms in Central Asia, the technology must be tailored to each country's climate, power supply and water conditions, according to a new analysis. The approach would prioritize thermal insulation technology for highland-heavy Kyrgyzstan, while Tajikistan — where power outages are frequent — would first receive compact greenhouses designed to minimize electricity consumption.

A report published Tuesday by the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), titled "Establishing International Development Cooperation Strategies for Priority Partner Countries in the Agriculture and Forestry Sector," analyzed the climate, power and irrigation conditions and demand for facility farming among farmers in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Based on that analysis, the researchers proposed country-specific Official Development Assistance strategies for facility agriculture.

The following table summarizes KREI's tailored facility agriculture ODA strategies for the three Central Asian countries.

Country | Key conditions and challenges | Priority facilities and technology | Implementation strategy Kyrgyzstan | Highland terrain, low winter temperatures, risk of power outages | Insulated vinyl greenhouses, solar heat storage, manual switchover capability | Build one or two pilot greenhouses near Bishkek, then gradually upgrade to smart systems Tajikistan | Two to three power outages per month, winter vegetable shortages, predominantly small farms | Low-power timers, drip irrigation, insulated vinyl greenhouses, mini-greenhouses | Expand winter production starting from the southern region and areas near Dushanbe Uzbekistan | Relatively developed facility farming infrastructure | Three-tier greenhouse model by technology level | Diversify into crops such as strawberries, green onions and herbs; develop AKIS as a regional technology transfer hub

All three Central Asian countries share common challenges — water scarcity, extreme weather, soil degradation and labor shortages — but their agricultural conditions differ considerably. Researchers found that some areas lack adequate grid connectivity or experience frequent outages, making it difficult to apply South Korea's advanced smart farm systems directly.

The researchers accordingly recommended pursuing facility agriculture ODA through a "two-track" approach that combines low-cost, accessible facilities with advanced systems, rather than standardizing on a single high-tech smart farm model.

In Kyrgyzstan, low winter temperatures in highland areas were identified as the key variable. The proposed approach calls for prioritizing insulated vinyl greenhouses fitted with double-layer plastic sheeting and thermal curtains, while integrating energy-saving technologies such as solar heat-storage greenhouses that take advantage of the country's abundant sunlight. The researchers also noted that facilities should include manual switchover functions so farmers can continue operating them independently during power outages.

For smart farms, the report proposed installing one or two pilot greenhouses near the capital Bishkek first, then developing models suited to local climate and terrain before expanding in stages. The recommendation also reflected a survey of local farmers, in which more than 80 percent of Kyrgyz respondents chose smart farms as their preferred type of facility.

Tajikistan calls for a different approach. Because many farms experience two to three power outages a month, the researchers said the priority should be combining insulated vinyl greenhouses with low-power timers and drip irrigation. Given that 67.5 percent of farmers preferred vinyl houses over smart farms, the report said insulation, heating and water supply infrastructure should be improved before pursuing advanced automation.

The researchers particularly highlighted Tajikistan's heavy reliance on imports due to insufficient winter vegetable supply. Taking into account the prevalence of small-scale farms, the report proposed developing "mini-greenhouses" with relatively low upfront costs and expanding winter production starting from the southern region and areas near the capital Dushanbe.

Uzbekistan, which has a comparatively developed facility farming base, was recommended a strategy of dividing greenhouses into three tiers by technology level. Facilities would be distributed according to regional climate and production conditions, with crop diversification into strategic items such as strawberries, green onions and herbs. The report also proposed developing the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) center into a hub for transferring facility farming technology to neighboring Central Asian countries.

Water management was identified as a shared challenge for all three countries. The researchers said there is a need to introduce smart irrigation systems, convert aging pumps to renewable energy-powered ones, and adopt an integrated water management platform using information and communications technology and geographic information systems. The priorities differ by country, however: Uzbekistan should focus on large-scale cluster irrigation, Tajikistan on small-scale drip irrigation, and Kyrgyzstan on cooperative-unit shared irrigation systems.

"Spreading climate-adaptive greenhouse technology requires a two-track approach that combines appropriate-technology models with advanced ones," the researchers said, recommending that facility agriculture ODA models be differentiated by taking into account each country's climate, energy costs and farmers' capacity to adopt new technology.


adastra@heraldcorp.com