FAO will support the efforts of Kyrgyzstan to enforce veterinary standards in trout farms
Bishkek – Fish is one of the most important and useful products in the food basket of the people in Kyrgyzstan. It is an excellent source of protein and essential micronutrients. But growing demand for fish requires sound management of fish stocks and development of the aquaculture sector.
The intensive growth of the aquaculture sector in Kyrgyzstan has led to an increase in fish production over the past ten years. According to the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, 33.6 thousand tonnes of marketable fish were grown in the country in 2023. Rainbow trout accounted for most of this volume. Private investment has been made in industrial cage farms along the Naryn River, as well as in small pond farms throughout the country.
However, the surge in production has led to a number of serious challenges and risks that threaten the sustainability of the investments made in the sector and the production gains achieved.
“The lack of territorial planning today leads to the fact that the production structure of individual farms does not meet modern requirements and standards,” said Kuvatbek Bapaev, International Technical Adviser and Acting Deputy Representative of FAO in Kyrgyzstan. “This poses serious risks, primarily related to biosafety, fish health and, as a consequence, poor production results.”
Of particular concern is the detection of a number of diseases in the trout subsector, which resulted in fish mortality and significant financial losses to farmers in 2018. This situation was compounded by the unsustainable use of antibiotics and reduced export potential.
The lack of veterinary specialists to provide diagnostic services and veterinary certification of fish and fish products further limits the ability of local farmers to respond to disease outbreaks.
Therefore, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, has started to implement a new project “Support of the trout production sector to improve the protection of fish health and compliance with phytosanitary standards in fish farms.”
On 2 February, the inception workshop was held in Bishkek to launch the project. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, educational and scientific circles, as well as members of the National Aquaculture Association and fish farmers.
The project is designed to help the State Veterinary Service and the Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry to develop an effective action plan to combat possible outbreaks of fish diseases. Another objective of the project is to improve mechanisms to ensure the safety and quality of fish, its processing and marketing. In addition, the capacity of the relevant services for the quality of fish health surveillance and veterinary control of fish products will be strengthened.
“The upward trend in fish consumption will continue over the next decades. However, increasing demand for fish requires improvements in fish farming practices and the development of the aquaculture sector,” said Haydar Fersoy, FAO Senior Fishery and Aquaculture Officer. “I am convinced that through this project, we will be able to improve the understanding of farmers, veterinarians and representatives of specialized institutions of fish health problems, early detection and successful treatment of diseases of trout and other fish species.”
The project will support fish farms through the implementation of best practices in fish health management, biosafety on fish farms and the planning of their production activities. This will improve product quality and increase production volumes.
The project will also contribute to the development of the fish farming sector in Kyrgyzstan, the creation of new jobs and the improvement of people's living standards.
