On 3 August 2018, under the “Productive Social Contract / Cash Plus” joint pilot project of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and implemented with the financial support of the Russian Federation, a field day was held in the Suzak district of Jalal-Abad oblast for households receiving monthly benefits for low-income families with children (MBLIF). The event was organized by FAO together with Chuj-Talas Rural Advisory Services.

During the field day, pilot participants shared their knowledge of agrotechnology and their experience in growing nutrition-sensitive crops offered under the pilot initiative, which include spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, chickpeas and lentils. They discussed the practices of organic farming and pest management, as well as the use of water-saving irrigation technologies. The participants also demonstrated their achievements in cultivating quality products using what they had learned during the pilot in addition to their own safe and healthy preservation methods.

Furthermore, in light of the beneficiaries’ increased interest in improving the production efficiency of agricultural practices with the judicious use of water resources, participants learned about drip irrigation systems. The additional income that low-income families can earn using the skills and knowledge acquired during the pilot project will also allow them to invest in drip irrigation and other agricultural technologies.

Field day participants repeatedly stressed the importance of the agronomy practice management knowledge they received during the pilot. Some pilot beneficiaries described how the training, consultation and extension services had enabled them to fully realize their farming potential and use their kitchen garden plots to ensure sustainable food production and income generation.