This document discusses the role of fertilizer in transforming agriculture in Kyrgyzstan. It finds that fertilizer use has increased crop yields substantially, but that farmers still underuse fertilizer due to various constraints. Specifically, nitrogen fertilizer use has increased while phosphate and potash use remains low due to higher prices and lack of awareness. The document also identifies opportunities to address constraints such as improving access to credit, developing extension services, and strengthening agricultural institutions.

1. ROLE OF FERTILIZER IN TRANSFORMING OF
AGRICULTURE IN Kyrgyzstan
ReSAKSS-Asia
Dilshod Abdulhamidov
Siem Reap, Cambodia
September 26-27, 2013

2. 13.8%
46.7%
40.2%
43.4%
39.3%
38.2%
32.7%
35.7% 36.7% 36.7%
0.5%
4.2% 3.9% 4.6% 3.8%
5.9%
3.9%
5.2%
7.2% 7.2%
1.2%
0.5% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% 0.0% 0.0%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
50.0%
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Fertilizer Requirement Projections and Consumption in
Kyrgyzstan in 2002-2011, %
N
P2O5
K2O
Annual Fertilizer Requirement:
• N - 68,800 MT
• P2O5 - 44,410 MT
• K2O - 4,025 MT
*Source: FAO, The Department of Chemicalization and Plant Protection of Kyrgyz Republic

3. Flow of Fertilizer from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia
(2012)
Lugovaya Hub, KZ:
• AN, $350;
• Ammophos, $470;
KazaAzot & Kazphosphate, KZ,
• AN, Ammophos, Superph
osphate ;
Russia:
• AN, MAP, Superphosphate
Uzbekistan:
• AN
($255), Urea, Super
phosphate
255
(59.3%)
255
(49.8%)
65.2
(15.1%)
65.2
(12.7%)
82.0
(4.8%)
20.5
(16.0%)
110.2
(20.8%)
89.7
(21.5%)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550
Batken
Chuy
Uzbekistan AN Retail Price Components, $/MT
Producer Price Railroad Transportation
Road Transportation Storage, Distribution, Marketing
$430/MT
$512/MT

4. 3,110
6,500+670
(+21.5%
+800
(+12.3%)
+822
(+26.4%)
+1,498
(+23%)
+1,582
(+50,9%)
+3,125
(+48.1%)
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
Winter wheat Maize
Yield,kg
+77.3%
+71.1%
Yields response to fertilizer and quality seeds, 2007 – 2009, updated with crop
and fertilizer prices in 2012 (Source: KAED/IFDC)
18,050
+2,950
(+16.3%)
+3,225
(+34.2%)
+7,913
(+43.8%)
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
Potato
+78%
Imbalanced fertilizer & Inappropriate variety
Balanced fertilizer & Inappropriate variety
Imbalanced fertilizer & Appropriate variety
Balanced fertilizer & Appropriate variety
Average Yields in KR
(2008-2012):
• Wheat - 2,112 kg/ha
• Maize - 5,942 kg/ha
• Potato - 15,876 kg/ha

5. Yield gap at fertilizer and seed levels
(Wheat, maize, and potato)
• Nutrient
deficiencies
• Improper variety/
poor seed quality
(42% - 44%)
• Improper variety/
poor seed quality
(31% - 35%)
• Nutrient
deficiencies
(25% - 29%)
Yield potential given
proper varieties and
efficient nutrients

6. 1.34
3.13
1.09
4.37 4.18
11.14
0.78
1.84
0.63
2.44
1.29
3.47
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Wheat
(inappropriate
variety)
Wheat Maize
(inappropriate
variety)
Maize Potato
(inappropriate
variety)
Potato
VCR for recommended levels of balanced fertilizer application, 2002 & 2012
2002
2012

7. Constraints and Challenges at farm level
• Increased number of inexperienced farmers after distribution
of land to rural residents in 1998 (65% of total population):
▫ Insufficient knowledge in the techniques of land
management and cultivation
▫ Poor information on farm inputs, especially phosphate and
potash fertilizers;
• Causes of larger amounts of nitrogenous fertilizers
▫ Availability at lower prices compared to P&K fertilizers
▫ Immediate effect on crops
▫ Traditional practices
• Risks:
▫ Bad weather and other external factors (drought in 2010
and 2012)
▫ High volatility of output prices;
• Financial constraints
• Lack access to marketing channels and markets

8. • Low farmer demand for fertilizer;
• Financial constraints;
• Limited access to modern input
market chains;
• High transportations costs;
Constraints and Challenges - Dealers

9. Constraints and Challenges - Government Level
• Very low budget of Ministry of Agriculture (~1.8% in 2013
of total gov. budget compared ~4% to 2009 and earlier)
• Only 3 soil test labs in the country:
▫ No results on micronutrients;
▫ 0nly 0.2% of farmers test the soil;
• Inefficient allocation of exiting resources:
▫ Agricultural credits with low interest rates are
available and main indicators are repayments; there is
no ag-development schemes;
• There is no national extension system to educate and
consult farmers
• Huge gap between ministries, universities, research
institutions, and policymaking and implementing entities.

10. Opportunities
• Access of input dealers to low interest rate credit
• Development schemes alternative to credits (vouchers –
input package of NPK and HYV)
• Development of Public Extension Services
▫ Extension Interventions,
▫ Extension PR (Publications, TV)
▫ Free Soil Testing
▫ Develop on-farm field trials
• Strengthening the institutional capacity of Ministry of
Agriculture: more upgraded soil labs, regular
monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment
• Promote commercial crops (maize, potato, etc.).
So, using NPK improve nutrient budgets for growing
other crops, such as wheat and sunflower, in following
years.