MARKET-ORIENTED VEGETABLE PRODUCTION TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS AND INCREASE FARMERS' INCOMES IN CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, vegetable production in Central Asia and the Caucasus went into serious decline. Established systems for agricultural research ceased to function and this hampered the region’s capacity to grow vegetables for local consumption, processing, and export. Over the past 18 years, the eight newly independent nations of Central Asia and the Caucasus have passed new laws and regulations for agricultural development as part of the gradual transition to market-oriented agriculture. In Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz-stan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan state land was distributed among farmers. Farmers’ associations have been established along with joint stock corporations for vegetable production, procurement, and processing. However, agriculture still faces constraints from poor infrastructure, a shortage of tractors and other equipment, and a lack of fertilizer and high quality seed. Agricultural research has languished in the transition to market-based economies, and few new technologies for growing and processing vegetables have been implemented. Although the new nations have established grant programs for agricultural research, a limited base of funds hinders the ongoing development of agriculture in the region. To foster regional and international collaboration, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center - established the Network for Vegetable Systems Research & Development for Central Asia and the Caucasus in 2006. The aforementioned eight countries participate in the network to develop vegetable production systems oriented toward market and trade, and conduct research aligned with the strategic principles of each National Agricultural Research System (NARS). Through collaboration with AVRDC, new varieties of vegetable crops have been tested in state trials and released in the region. These new varieties play an important role in farm diversification, crop rotation, improving the nutritional quality of diets, and increasing farmers’ incomes.