When Sonungul Zhyltyrova and like-minded partners founded the cooperative, her dream was to unite farmers around organic farming and the cultivation of medicinal plants. Today, that dream has become reality. Through the project, over 120 farmers received training, shifted away from chemical fertilizers, and mastered new techniques for growing valerian, mint, oregano, and other crops.

“Growing medicinal herbs is our contribution to people’s health and biodiversity conservation. Valerian and other crops help maintain health while providing rural families with a source of income. For me, organic farming is about caring for both the land and the people. We want our region to be known for environmentally friendly products that are good for health and preserve nature,” emphasizes Sonungul.

For many women, participating in the cooperative has been their first step toward financial independence. Syryga, a 25-year-old farmer from Novo-Voznesenovka and mother of three, notes: “Thanks to cultivating and processing medicinal herbs, my income increased by 20%. Now I can make decisions on how to use my earnings. This has changed my role in the family and given me confidence in the future.”

Youth have also actively joined the project. Mukhammed Amin, a 19-year-old graduate of Tynystanov College, admits: “I used to see no prospects in agriculture. But participating in organic farming trainings changed my perspective: we learn modern methods, use biohumus, and biological plant protection. Yields are higher, and costs are lower.”

The project has already delivered tangible results. On 12 hectares, valerian was cultivated without chemicals, preventing tons of nitrogen fertilizers and several kilograms of pesticides from entering the soil. Women and youth gained new employment opportunities, and rural household incomes rose by 20%.

The cooperative has installed modern processing equipment: distillers for essential oils, machines for fermenting and rolling tea, and facilities for flash freezing and vacuum packaging. This enabled processing over a ton of raw materials and producing more than two thousand packs of medicinal herbs. The launch of essential oil production is expected to increase farmers’ incomes by up to 40%.

These achievements are only the beginning. In the long term, the project opens new horizons:

• Economic: sustainable income growth, new jobs, access to export markets.
• Social: improved living standards, strengthened cooperation, development of entrepreneurial skills.
• Environmental: biodiversity conservation, soil improvement, and reduced pollution.
• Health: access to eco-friendly products and the use of medicinal plants to support public health.

Today, the cooperative is negotiating with international companies from Germany, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Mongolia, and showcased its products at Organic Expo 2025 in Almaty—an important step toward promoting the “Made in Kyrgyzstan” brand internationally.

The story of Issyk-Kul Organica proves that medicinal and aromatic plants are not only nature’s wealth but also a key to preserving health, cultural heritage, and sustainable livelihoods.

The UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) supports local community initiatives that address global environmental challenges and improve people’s lives. By funding projects in biodiversity, climate, land and forest management, water resources, and chemicals, SGP demonstrates that local actions can have a global impact.