A few years ago, Kylych Akunov leased six hectares of rocky unproductive land from the Balykchy forest enterprise and set up an orchard on this place. Every year for a month and a half to two months, Kylych provides work and food for 60 to 70 people. Basically, they come to work with their families. Depending on the season, one family earns from 500 to 1500 Kyrgyz Soms per day.
Orchards were set up on over 500 hectares of unproductive arid areas of Balykchy forest enterprise. The orchards belong to 250-300 households that hire people to water and care for trees. During the harvest season the number of workers increases. Such examples of cooperation between government agencies and entrepreneurs help to address unemployment issues in the region.
Moreover, unproductive lands are being developed and the state of the environment is being improved. In addition, the forest enterprise is also working on fast-growing trees plantations and now more than 50 hectares of such plantations have been created.
GIZ regional programme on sustainable land use has successful supported the testing of new forest management practices in several forest enterprises, including Balykchy.
