National Poverty Reduction Strategy 2003-2005

The National Poverty Reduction Strategy is a national multi-sectoral strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic for the period of 2003-2005. Its main objective is to expand the opportunities for citizens to have adequate and equitable living standards in the Kyrgyz Republic.
In the area of food security, the document aims to ensure stable access for all citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic to a sufficient quantity of food products in all regions of the country, among others, by ensuring of stable production growth, establishment of the market system of providing rural commodity producers with machinery, fuel and lubricants, fertilizers, protection devices, bio-preparations, etc. on a tender basis; development of a science-based agricultural policy; improvement of a legal framework regulating activities of the agro-industrial complex (AIC) enterprises of all property forms; formation and strengthening of market infrastructure of the agricultural sector; improvement of interaction of the AIC with other sectors of the economy; expansion of agricultural production capacities based on application of technological achievements; food reserve development strategy; and measures on social protection of vulnerable layers of the population.
The Strategy notes that the main principle in the area of environmental protection is a comprehensive rationalization of the use of natural resources without any damage to sustainable long-term development. It continues that methods of water use and land cultivation with a view to biodiversity preservation should be beneficial for all strata of society, in particular the poor. The Strategy then provides specific actions to improve the efficiency of water and land resource use, as well as to preserve and broaden the area of forest-covered and specifically protected territories.
Further, according to the Strategy, the major objectives in the development of the AIC for the current and perspective periods, is revival of industrial agricultural production aimed at providing the population with foodstuffs and ensuring sustainable development of the processing sector. The document notes that it is necessary to increase exports of processed agricultural products. For this purpose it is required to solve the priority tasks related to support of domestic industries processing agricultural products, rational import replacement, as well as ensuring competitiveness of the country’s production in the world market. In order to stabilize the situation in the agricultural sector, it is necessary to solve the problem of self-reliance of the population in relation to basic products, strengthening of all positive tendencies that developed as a result of reforms in agriculture through organization of a complete technological cycle of production of export-oriented agricultural produce; active development of the processing industry; establishment of an effective system of marketing for agricultural products; stimulation of domestic and external investments; ensuring adequate legislation; intensification of production; establishment of commodity cooperatives and associations; development of the education system and advisory services on modern methods of agribusiness management; and ensure access to information on domestic and international commodity markets. The document continues that a further development of agricultural production in the Republic is closely related to increase in the level of irrigated farming, irrigation network development and improvement of irrigation methods. Development of livestock breeding will be focused on meat and milk production to attain production volumes satisfying not only the local market, but sufficient for partial selling of these products on external market. To ensure growth of agricultural production, it is also necessary to improve the activities of agricultural support services. For this purpose measures will be taken to establish agro-chemical and agro-technical services in each village government. It is planned to pay special attention to the formation of economic and social infrastructure in rural areas – rehabilitation of roads and communications, ensuring of access to healthcare and educational services, and safe potable water for rural inhabitants.
In the area of disaster management, the Strategy aims to increase effectiveness of forecasting natural calamities and catastrophes; ensure quick response in liquidation of the consequences of natural calamities and carrying out damage-control works at sites; and build capacity and provide institutional development of the Ministry of Ecology and Emergencies. In addition, a system of monitoring and evaluation of catastrophic technogenic factors will be developed. Control over potential source of technogenic catastrophes will be tightened. The development of a law on ecological insurance is envisaged that will create a legal basis for minimizing economic consequences and damage caused by natural calamities.
A partnership network, uniting government and non-government participants and stakeholders, will be developed to ensure effective implementation of the Strategy. The Strategy’s implementation process will be coordinated by the National Council chaired by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. The system of monitoring and evaluation will be based on the participatory principle involving all stakeholders of the Strategy’s process - civil society, government instrumentalities, businesses and certainly the poor who are the primary beneficiaries of the Strategy.