Bishkek, July 1, 2026. /Kabar/. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) donated a modern mobile pasture monitoring laboratory to the veterinary, livestock, pasture, and forage development service of Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan.
According to the FAO, the equipment cost over 6.6 million soms. The technical assistance was provided as part of the "Carbon Sequestration through Climate Investments in Forests and Pastures in Kyrgyz Republic (CS FOR)" project, implemented with financial support from the Green Climate Fund.
The equipment is aimed at developing a modern digital system for monitoring and assessing pastures, as well as strengthening pasture resource management capacity.
In handing over the equipment, Oleg Guchgeldiev, FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan, emphasized that this initiative creates a foundation for data-driven decision-making and strengthens science-based pasture management.
The donated mobile laboratory includes an all-terrain service vehicle, a multispectral drone, laptops and computer equipment, solar panels, a generator, a portable energy storage system, as well as field equipment such as a tent, backpacks, a table and chairs, and much more. This equipment will enable specialists to quickly and accurately monitor pasture conditions, promptly identify degraded areas, collect and analyze spatial data using drones and GIS technologies, develop a digital pasture assessment system, effectively conduct field research in hard-to-reach mountainous areas, and make scientifically sound management decisions.
Furthermore, FAO and the ministry's service signed cooperation agreement. As part of the agreement, an automated pasture monitoring and assessment system will be created in Kyrgyzstan. For this purpose, previously developed digital tools—a pasture monitoring and assessment database, a mobile app, and the "Electronic Pasture Committee" platform—will be combined into a single integrated digital system.
The collaboration encompasses three key areas: equipping the mobile laboratory with modern equipment, improving the mobile app, integrating all digital tools, and training specialists at the national and regional levels. Training Service specialists in field monitoring, the use of multispectral drones, satellite imagery analysis, and the application of FAO digital platforms such as SEPAL, Earth Map, and Collect Earth.
"Pastures are a strategic natural resource for Kyrgyzstan and the foundation for livestock development. Therefore, scientifically based monitoring, effective management, and protection of pastures from degradation are among the government's priorities," emphasized Ilyich Marsbek uulu, First Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry.
Also, as part of the FAO project, 27 community landscape management groups (CLMGs) were established in pilot districts to support local governments in monitoring, assessing, planning, and sustainably managing pasture resources.