Agriculture and food in Kyrgyzstan

Agriculture in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. It is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest, and China to the east. Its capital and largest city are Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan's terrain extends west to east from the Tien Shan mountains to the Fergana Valley. Over 90% of the country is mountainous, with an average elevation of 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) above sea level. Kyrgyzstan is a semi-presidential republic consisting of seven provinces. The majority of the population are ethnic Kyrgyz, a Turkic people. Islam is the dominant religion, followed by Russian Orthodox Christianity. Kyrgyzstan was a Soviet republic from 1936 until 1991. In 1991, it became independent from the Soviet Union. In 2010, it adopted a new constitution that established a parliamentary republic. Kyrgyzstan is a member of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. It is also a founding member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and participates in its activities. Kyrgyzstan's economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, with about 40% of the population engaged in farming. The industrial sector is small and dominated by mining, particularly gold and rare earth metals. Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), having joined in 2015. The name Kyrgyz is believed to have been derived from the Turkic word for "40", in reference to the 40 clans of Manas, a legendary hero who united 40 regional clans against the Uyghur Khaganate in the 8th century. Kyrgyzstan is one of the six independent Turkic states, along with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan. The Constitution of Kyrgyzstan recognizes Islam as the religion of the state and guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens. The Kyrgyz government controls the Muslim Board of Kyrgyzstan, which is the highest Islamic body in the country. However, religious leaders are not required to be members of the board, and some have criticized the board for being too closely linked to the government. Kyrgyzstan's population is predominantly Muslim, with Sunni Islam being the majority religion. Islam was introduced to the Kyrgyz people in the 7th century by Arab missionaries. The Kyrgyzstan Islamic Institute is the country's leading religious institution and provides training for imams and other religious officials. Muslims make up about 75% of the population, with most being Sunni Muslims. Other religious groups in Kyrgyzstan include Christians, Buddhists, and Jews. Christians, mostly Russian Orthodox, make up about 5% of the population. There are also small numbers of Catholics, Protestants, and other Christians. Buddhists make up about 1% of the population, with most being ethnic Kyrgyz. There is also a small community of Tibetan Buddhists. Jews make up less than 1% of the population. Kyrgyzstan has been described as a "tolerant Muslim society". Islam is the main religion, but religious freedom is guaranteed by the constitution. Kyrgyzstan's Muslims generally follow the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam. There are a number of mosques and madrassas in Kyrgyzstan, the most notable of which is the Baiterek Mosque in Bishkek. The mosque was built with funding from the government of Kazakhstan and can accommodate up to 5,000 people. The Islamic Center of Kyrgyzstan is the country's largest Islamic institution and is affiliated with the Muslim World League. It offers religious, social, and cultural programs, as well as education in Islam. The Kyrgyzstan Islamic Institute is the country's leading religious institution and provides training for imams and other religious officials. It is also involved in research on Islam in Kyrgyzstan. The government of Kyrgyzstan is secular and does not favor any particular religion. However, it has been accused of being hostile to Islam and of violating the rights of Muslims. There have been a number of protests by Muslims in Kyrgyzstan against the government's policies. In 2010, protesters clashed with police after the government banned the wearing of Islamic headscarves in schools. In 2013, protesters again clashed with police after the government proposed a law that would have restricted the ability of Muslim clerics to give sermons. The law was later withdrawn. Kyrgyzstan is a multiethnic country with a diverse religious landscape. Islam is the dominant religion, but there is also a significant Christian minority, as well as small communities of Buddhists, Jews, and other religious groups. The Constitution of Kyrgyzstan guarantees freedom of religion and the rights of all religious groups. However, the government has been accused of being hostile to Islam and of violating the rights of Muslims. The landscape of Kyrgyzstan is varied and beautiful, with mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and forests all present the country. The Tian Shan mountain range runs through the middle of Kyrgyzstan and includes several peaks over 7,000 meters (23,000 ft) high. Lake Issyk-Kul is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and the second-largest saline lake in the world after the Caspian Sea. Its landscape is dominated by the Tian Shan mountain range, which includes several peaks over 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) high. Lake Issyk-Kul in the east is the country's largest lake and second-largest saline lake in the world after the Caspian Sea. The climate of Kyrgyzstan is continental, with cold winters and hot summers. Average January temperatures range from −5 °C (23 °F) in the Fergana Valley to −14 °C (7 °F) in Naryn Oblast, while average July temperatures range from 17 °C (63 °F) in Bishkek to 24 °C (75 °F) in Osh. Kyrgyzstan's natural resources include coal, gold, uranium, natural gas, hydropower, and rare earth metals. The country also has significant deposits of petroleum, tungsten, and mercury. Kyrgyzstan is home to over 100 ethnic groups, the majority of which are Turkic-speaking Kyrgyz and Uzbek. Russian is also widely spoken, particularly in urban areas. The economy of Kyrgyzstan was heavily damaged during the period of transition from a planned to a market economy, from 1990-1998. As a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan's GDP declined by more than 60% between 1990 and 1995. The Kyrgyz government has been striving to develop the country's economy and attract foreign investment. Kyrgyzstan's membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), which it joined in 1998, has also been helpful in this regard. The Kyrgyz Republic's economy is still in a transitional state, with a large informal sector and significant government controls and regulations. Despite recent economic growth, Kyrgyzstan remains one of the poorest countries in Central Asia. Agriculture is an important sector of Kyrgyzstan's economy, accounting for around 10% of GDP and employing around one-third of the workforce. The country is highly mountainous, and much of the arable land is in the highlands. Agriculture is therefore largely rain-fed, with irrigation only playing a limited role. The main agricultural products are wheat, rice, vegetables, fruits, livestock (sheep, goats, cows, horses), and wool. The highlands are the main agricultural regions of Kyrgyzstan, accounting for around two-thirds of the country's total arable land. The principal crops grown in the highlands are wheat, rice, vegetables, and fruits. livestock is also important, with sheep, goats, cows, and horses being the main types raised. Kyrgyzstan's highland pastures are one of the country's most important natural resources, providing grazing land for livestock as well as a significant source of wool. The lowlands are primarily used for livestock grazing, with some areas also devoted to growing crops such as wheat, rice, and vegetables. Kyrgyzstan's climate is generally too cold and dry for large-scale irrigation, though some limited irrigation does take place in the lower Ferghana Valley. Kyrgyzstan's agricultural sector has undergone significant changes since the country gained independence in 1991. The collectivization of farms under the Soviet Union led to the development of a large-scale, state-run agricultural sector, which was characterized by low productivity and inefficient use of resources. The transition to a market economy since independence has resulted in the breakup of many of these large collective farms, and a shift towards smaller, privately-owned farms. This has led to an increase in overall agricultural productivity, though the sector remains relatively underdeveloped compared to other parts of the economy. Kyrgyzstan's population is estimated to be 6,384,206 as of July 2019. The majority of the population is ethnic Kyrgyz, with a minority of Uzbeks and Russians. The capital city, Bishkek, has a population of 1,376,900. The population of Kyrgyzstan is relatively young, with a median age of 27.5 years (2017 est.). The population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the east and the Chu River valley in the north. Kyrgyzstan's population is mostly rural, with only about one-third of the people living in urban areas. The country has a high degree of ethnic and linguistic diversity, with more than 80 different ethnic groups and nearly as many languages spoken. According to a 2009 study, Muslims make up about 85% of the population of Kyrgyzstan. Islam is the predominant religion in Kyrgyzstan and has been so since the 14th century when the country was incorporated into the Uzbek Khanate. Sunni Islam of the Hanafi school is practiced by most ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks, while Shia Islam is practiced by the Tajik minority. There are also smaller numbers of Russian Orthodox Christians and Catholics. The Kyrgyz government guarantees freedom of religion and confession and religious organizations are required to register with the State Committee on Religious Affairs in order to operate legally within the country. However, non-Muslim religious groups have reported difficulties in acquiring registration. The government has been accused of giving preferential treatment to Islam and doing too little to protect religious minorities from societal discrimination and harassment. There have been incidents of religiously-motivated violence in Kyrgyzstan, most notably the 2010 Osh riots which were sparked by tensions between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks, many of whom are Muslim. In addition, there have been a number of attacks on Christian churches and missionaries by Islamic extremists. In 2012, an Uzbek imam was stabbed to death in the southern city of Jalal-Abad, reportedly because he had preached against suicide bombings. The Constitution of Kyrgyzstan provides for freedom of religion and the right to practice any religion or belief, alone or in a community with others, in public or in private. It also prohibits religious discrimination and guarantees equality before the law regardless of religion. However, the government has been accused of giving preferential treatment to Islam and doing too little to protect religious minorities from societal discrimination and harassment. Kyrgyzstan has a rich and vibrant culture that is heavily influenced by the nomadic lifestyle of its people. There is a strong emphasis on family and community, and great importance is placed on hospitality. Kyrgyzstan is home to a number of traditional crafts, including felt making, carpet weaving, pottery, and metalworking. Music and dance are also an important part of the culture, and there are a number of traditional instruments, such as the komuz (a three-stringed instrument) and the sybyzgy (a two-stringed fiddle). Kyrgyzstan's cuisine is based on meat, dairy products, and vegetables. There is a wide variety of bread and pastries, and the national dish is beshbarmak, which is noodles with meat (usually horse or lamb) and vegetables. Kyrgyzstan's culture is also evident in its architecture, with a number of traditional buildings and structures still standing. These include yurts (portable homes made from felt), mosques, and minarets. Kyrgyzstan is a fascinating country with a rich and unique culture. If you have the opportunity to visit, you will be sure to enjoy learning about the customs and traditions of this intriguing nation.