Dairy and meat businesses in Central Asia, especially smaller ones, are being hit by multiple shocks – from the war in Ukraine, to droughts, to the lingering effects of COVID-19.

Production costs have skyrocketed, while consumers’ purchasing power has weakened, making it difficult for agribusinesses to stay afloat.

One way to help small-scale farmers and agribusinesses optimize costs and be competitive is through reliable and timely knowledge and data.

With that in mind, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the FAO Investment Centre and FAO’s Digitalization and Informatics Division partnered with livestock industry associations in Kazakhstan to create a dedicated free app. It is essentially a one-stop shop for practical knowledge – from localized market information on animal feed, veterinary pharmacies and clinics to climate-smart practices and a farmer-to-farmer forum.

“This type of information and knowledge is critical if we are to take the mission seriously to sustainably feed future generations,” said FAO Agribusiness Officer Inna Punda.

The app, Agrokomek, is based on FAO’s Digital Services Portfolio (DSP), which provides digital advisory services to rural communities, tailored to local contexts and needs, with easy access to useful data, informationand statistics that support more efficient, resilient and inclusive agrifood systems. Developing rural digital inclusion on the ground, it is part of a wider Organizational effort aiming at promoting the shift towards digitalization and modernization in agriculture, through an efficient use of digital tools for major improvements in the food and agriculture sector in the field.

The multilingual tool, already active in Kazakhstan, will next be launched in the Kyrgyz Republic and managed by national private sector industry associations in both countries.

One unique feature of the app is the animal feed balancing tool, which helps farmers optimize their production costs while increasing animal productivity.