A resident of the village of Kok-Moinok-1 Kenzhe Asylbekova is already harvesting the first crop from the beds: cucumbers, beets, spinach, green onions and some types of cabbage. She grows all these crops together with fifteen female farmers of the village as part of the project "Growing Vegetables". Many of them, as Kenzhe admits , she planted for the first time, gaining experience in the process.

"I didn't know how to grow cucumbers before, but now I've mastered the process. This year I planted spinach for the first time — and, apparently, we'll get a good harvest. We grow five varieties of cabbage, two of which I've already successfully mastered and now I share my experience with other women in the group. Our participants learn not only how to grow vegetables, but also how to properly care for them," says Kenzhe, the leader of the Green Growing group. Asylbekova .

The women from Kok-Moinok-1 joined the project in 2025. Although this is their first experience, they have already learned how to grow vegetables and process them in environmentally friendly ways.
" We use regular vinegar and soda against moths. We scatter wood ash, manure and chicken manure. We apply these mixtures every seven days, without waiting for the pests to appear. We shape the tomato and cucumber bushes so that the fruits are larger, thin out the rows and replant the plants," the farmer adds.

Now Kenzhe is preparing to make cucumber preserves for the winter. Previously, she had to buy them at a high price, but now she has started using spinach, beets and a lot of onions in cooking. She not only provides her family with fresh and environmentally friendly vegetables, but also plans to sell the surplus.

This project is financed by the Seed Program International (SPI) and is implemented by the public fund AVEP.

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These neat strawberry beds belong to Elmira Ismailova , a member of the Growing Vegetables group from the village of Kara- Koo . Together with her husband Kurman She takes care of the Boobekovs' plantings. The couple liked the strawberries so much that they bought another 250 bushes in addition to the 500 bushes they received as part of the "Growing Vegetables" project and planted them. All the plants are planted in vermicompost, which the owners prepare themselves, right on their plot.

"We used to plant strawberries, too, but this is the first time we've grown them on such a large area. If some bushes don't take root, we transplant new runners. We water them, feed them with vitamins. At the trainings, we were taught how to grow strawberries under film, how to properly care for them, and feed them. Since spring, I've been to trainings 3-4 times already," says Kurman Bubekov, a resident of the village of Kara-Koo.

Elmira Ismailova, a member of the farming group responsible for these strawberries, is currently undergoing treatment in hospital. But Kurman Bubekov does not leave the strawberries without attention: every day, morning and evening, he goes around the beds, clears them of diseased leaves and waters them. His care evokes respect from his neighbors, and the installed drip irrigation system has already interested many villagers.

Inspired by the results, the couple plans to expand the strawberry plantation next year and move it to a shared plot.

This project is financed by the Seed Program International (SPI) and is implemented by the public fund AVEP. 

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In the village of Bokonbaev, Ton District, an event "Harvest Festival" was held as part of the "Vegetable Growing" project implemented by the AVEP Public Foundation. The event was attended by project participants, local farmers, representatives of the State Administration and the Ayil Okmotu (local government), as well as village residents, who all shared in the festive spirit.

During the celebration, farmers participating in the project showcased vegetables, strawberries, corn, dishes prepared from these products, as well as traditional handicrafts. The exhibition attracted great interest from the guests.

Following the exhibition, a practical demonstration was held showing how corn is harvested, chopped, and placed into silage using a forage harvester provided within the project. Participants had the opportunity to observe all the steps of silage preparation, ask questions, and receive useful answers.

Guests praised the organization of the event and wished success in further work. At the end of the celebration, the most active participants of the exhibition were awarded cash prizes, letters of appreciation, and incentive gifts.

The event was organized to promote vegetable. strawberry and corn cultivation, as well as silage preparation among the local population, and made a significant contribution to strengthening cooperation and solidarity among farmers.

This project is financed by the Seed Program International (SPI) and is implemented by the Public Fund AVEP.

 

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On a shared plot in the village of Ak- Sai, women from the group "Growing silage corn" planted this crop for the first time. For sowing, they used seeds brought from Turkey. Now the green rows of corn are pleasing to the eye with their evenness and rapid growth.

Gulbara Umetalieva, leader of the women's farming group, says that the goal of this initiative was to obtain high-quality feed and gain experience in making silage. - - This year, for the first time, we are growing corn with our own hands. We had never even seen it grow before. Now we want to know what the yield will be and how much our livestock will like this crop and observe this aspect. Now, in accordance with modern requirements, everyone is trying to feed animals with organic feed and we also want to learn how to do this ."

We focus on foreign seeds

The group members plan to harvest the crops together and make silage, which they will then divide among themselves. In the meantime, they are busy tending the crops: loosening the soil, weeding and watering. During their work, the women noticed that the Turkish variety of corn grows better than the local ones. Therefore, in the future, they intend to focus on purchasing foreign seeds. At the same time, the group continues its usual activities - for the third year now, the women have been successfully growing vegetables.

This project is financed by the Seed Program International (SPI) and is implemented by the public fund AVEP.

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#SowSeedTogether

#globalgardeners