As protein-rich quinoa becomes a trendy food choice worldwide, one pioneering farmer in remote Kyrgyzstan is reaping the benefits.

Azamat Kaseev in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul province harvested his quinoa crop earlier this month. Equipment, training, field testing and more were provided under an FAO project designed to test the feasibility of quinoa cultivation here – far from the plant’s South American origins. The project also aimed to promote the consumption of quinoa to address food insecurity in the country.

In 2013, quinoa seeds purchased in Latin America under a public tender were distributed to farmers in all seven provinces of Kyrgyzstan. Test plots were chosen to represent both irrigated and non-irrigated areas, territories with different altitudes, and other general conditions. Then the farmers received training on quinoa cultivation.