Revised REPORT_Nizam _ 07 March 2016

GENDER ANALYSIS AND VALUE CHAIN IN STRAWBERRIES AND
RAPSBERRIES IN KYRGYZSTAN
ACDIVOCA-KYRGYZSTAN AGRO HORIZON PROJECT
DER ANALYSIS REPORT
Bishkek, February 2016.

This publication was produced for review
This Report was Prepared for review by the United States Agency for International
Development. It was accomplished by Dr. Nizamuddin Al-Hussainy, Senior Gender Consultant
on behalf of ACDI/VOCA with the support of gender team comprising of Agro Horizon Project
Gender Mainstreaming Manager Ms. Umut Egemberdieva and Advisor for Women's
Economic Empowerment in M4P Ms. Jane Gisin.
DISCLAIMER
The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the
United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank all the respondents who participated in the Focus Group Discussions, Key
Informant’s interviews as well as Mr. Martin West, COP and all his USAID Agro Horizon Project
colleagues who facilitated all out support for the field missions in Kyrgyzstan. I also would like
to express my special thanks to Dr. Jenn Williamson, Director of Gender Mainstreaming &
Women’s Empowerment, ACDI/VOCA, from Wash DC & Ms. Umut Egemberdieva Gender
Mainstreaming Manager of Agro Horizon project and Advisor for Women's Economic
Empowerment in M4P Ms. Jane Gisin who took time to answer repeated questions about the
project, arranged all FGDs, KIIs & logistics of the field missions in 4 Oblasts, even at the
expense of their own personal time.
Nizam Al-Hussainy

3
ABBREVIATIONS
CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy 2014-2019
COP Chief of Party
FGD Focus Group Discussion
HYV High Yielding Variety
GEFE Gender Equality and Female Empowerment
GDP Gross Domestic Products
GNP Gross National Products
KII Key Informant Interview
KR Kyrgyz Republic
VC Value Chain
USAID United States Agency for International Development
USD United States Dollar
USG United States Government
WB World Bank

4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
content Page #
Acknowledgements 2
Abbreviations 3
Table of contents 4
Executive summary 5
CHAPTER I: Gender and Value Chain analysis in Strawberry & Raspberry
in KR
7
Introduction: Summary of Desk Review and Findings 7
Country context: Gender VC analysis 8
Profitability 11
VC map 12
Methodology 14
Justification for selecting this VC Subsector 15
CHAPTER II: Findings: Demographic background of FG participants 17
CHAPTER III: Gender Roles & Responsibilities of Production segment of
soft fruits VC in Different Regions of KR
19
Assessment of access to and control over resources 21
Best location for good production, production level, post harvesting
level, processing level
22
Domestic Consumption and marketing of berries 24
CHAPTER IV. Value chain analysis of strawberry and raspberry:
constraints and opportunities of subsector
27
CHAPTER V: Conclusions & Recommendations for possible interventions 31
References 35
Annexure A Details of methodology page 36
Annexure B KII Questions and answers of stakeholders from all 4 regions 55
Annexure C A case Study: “Things I dream, good variety & new technology” 84
Annexure D Gender Roles and Responsibilities in four Areas 87
Annexure E FGD respondent’s Data, analysis of all 8 FGDs held in all 4 regions 94
Annexure F Demographic information and charts of Participants of FGD 96
Annexure G Summary from all regions: access to and control over resources 99
Annexure H Climatic Conditions correlation to Berries production in KR 104

5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Agro Horizon promotes economic growth by increasing employment in the agricultural
sector, especially for women and youth, while improving the availability of nutritious foods
and market share of the targeted crops in both domestic and foreign markets. The Agro
Horizon Project is a key component of USAID KR’s overall economic development program
designed to accelerate diversified and equitable economic growth in Kyrgyz Republic(KR)’1.
The geographic focus areas of Agro Horizon comprise the regions (oblasts) of Osh, Batken,
and Jalalabad in Southern Kyrgyzstan, and the Naryn region in the North. With a focus on
these four regions Agro Horizon Project engages actors in other locations that have market
links to production in the target regions or the potential to strengthen competitiveness of the
entire value chain for domestic or regional markets.
The ‘gender value chain analysis of Strawberries and Raspberries’ represents a comprehensive
overview and an analysis of the Gender VC linkages resulting number of issues and findings as
well as specific and general recommendations for actions for berries program in KR.
Both women and men work on small-scale family farms for berry production, sometimes
together and sometimes with divided roles and responsibilities. However, women are most
involved in the production of berries. The USAID Agro Horizon Project aims to fully integrate
female empowerment and gender equality throughout its overall approach and project
activities. As Agro Horizon Project is dedicated to ensuring as many women as possible are
effectively reached by the project’s trainings, demonstrations, and other activities, this gender
analysis in VC of soft fruits explores the situation of women in the project’s target areas as it
relates to mobility, access to and use of inputs, asset use, and participation in the Value Chain.
Agro Horizon Project will utilize the data collected in this analysis to explore actionable
interventions for Agro Horizon Project to ensure the constraints are addressed where
possible, and opportunities to empower women are actualized.
Chapter one identifies the objectives and methodology of the gender analysis VC, summary
of desk review/findings supported by the primary data/information generated by FGD and KII
on gender value chain analysis of strawberries and raspberries in Kyrgyz Republic.
It was revealed that, in Kyrgyzstan raspberries and strawberries is being produced in around
one thousand hectares of land by over 175000 farmers (75000 strawberries, 115000
raspberry) producing 4 thousand tons of raspberries and 6 thousand tons of strawberries
annually costing around 20 million USD. These fruits have been an excellent source of
nutritious fruits in early spring and also steady incomes for small growers and for few
processing plants, and thus could be treated as a driving force in agricultural economic growth
of the country. Over 450 thousand women also benefited from growing these berries. A large
number of women are involved in in processing of berries, over 70% of labourers in the
processing plants are women. Fresh and processed raspberries and strawberries are
consumed by the people of Kyrgyzstan and these fruits have high market demand, potential
1
Quoted from Scope of Work’ of the consultant

6
for export in Kazakhstan and Russia thus strawberry and Raspberry production, marketing is
an important subsector for the processing industry.
Chapter two presents the findings of the demographic surveys conducted with FGD
participants on sex, age groups, geographic locations, land ownership and other
characteristics, with a focus on the revealed opinions of female-headed households and
women engaged in agricultural income-generating activities.
Chapter three determines the gender roles and responsibilities of production segment of soft
fruits value chain in different regions of KR. FGD with all 59 participants revealed both male
and female groups from 4 different regions traditionally majority of works in berries
production at house hold level are being carried out by women, but in Jalalabad area, men’s
group pointed out that they carry out majority of works. But decision about harvesting,
sorting, packaging, storing, other value addition for marketing (Farmers do not add value to
the product usually), marketing/selling, price negotiation or bargaining, controlling sales
proceeds (Usually the income and savings are made together and both have access. However,
sometimes some money is hidden from spouse), decision over income for spending are the
‘gender roles & responsibilities’ of women.
chapter four describes the main constraints and opportunities of the subsector and
summarises some conclusions of the study.
Finally, chapter five, draws 19 recommendations for possible actions to ensure the
constraints are addressed where possible, and opportunities to empower women are
actualized. Recommendations were justified by the constraints, opportunities and
conclusions identification and analysis of VC of the subsector done. Among the
recommendations most notables were to * Secure high quality seedling material supply (of
Raspberry & Strawberry) with the assistance of partnership of international nurseries. Support
establishing/creation women friendly berry nurseries for growing new HYV of Raspberries and
Strawberries certified seedling materials and runners of new varieties through implementation of
grants and training at project intervention areas which will increase the overall yields and income.
*Consider supporting the establishment of vertical linkages between traders/processors and number
of female farmers through contract farming on pilot farms. * Facilitate establishing links of women
berries growers with fruits agro-processing companies and increase management capacities of
company manager/staff through trainings, * Support with appropriate technology for women for land
preparation, irrigation and plant protection, packaging for marketing adding VC, * Create
mechanism/techniques to protect fruits from birds and cattle, handy technology for processing and
preservation for women who preserve/process berries at homestead level, * Provide farm and
processing machinery for women household users, * Support technical training in the process of
development of new innovative value added products, * Support through trainings for introduction of
food safety standards , *Build women’s capacity in business and marketing through appropriate
trainings.

7
CHAPTER I: GENDER AND VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS IN STRAWBERY AND
RASPBERRY IN KYRGYZSTAN
INTRODUCTION: SUMMARY OF DESK REVIEW AND FINDINGS
‘Agro Horizon is based on USAID/Kyrgyz Republic Country Development Cooperation Strategy
(CDCS), which is closely aligned with the KR National Sustainable Development Strategy for
2013–2017 and envisions increasing human capital, improving the business enabling
environment, and increasing competitiveness in select economic sectors. The goal of Agro
Horizon is to raise smallholder farmers’ incomes by expanding markets and increasing the
competitiveness of select value chains. The goal aligns with the CDCS objective of
“accelerated growth of a diversified and equitable economy.”2
USAID Agro Horizon Overview3: Agro Horizon promotes economic growth by increasing
employment in the agricultural sector, especially for women and youth, while improving
the availability of nutritious foods and market share of the targeted crops in both
domestic and foreign markets. The Agro Horizon Project is a key component of USAID KR’s
overall economic development program designed to accelerate diversified and equitable
economic growth in KR.
The geographic focus areas of Agro Horizon comprise the regions (oblasts) of Osh, Batken,
and Jalalabad in Southern Kyrgyzstan, and the Naryn region in the North. With a focus on
these four regions we engage actors in other locations that have market links to
production in the target regions or the potential to strengthen competitiveness of the
entire value chain for domestic or regional markets.
To sustainably reduce poverty and promote agricultural economic growth, Agro Horizon will:
1. Increase productivity of agricultural producers and link them to markets (Task 1,
“Productivity”)
2. Increase productivity and markets for agribusinesses (Task 2, “Marketing”)
3. Improve enabling environment for agriculture sector growth (Task 3, “Enabling
Environment”)
4. Improve nutritional status of women and children in the zone of influence (Task
4, “Nutrition”)
The following systemic and cross-cutting conditions are critical to achieving these objectives:
 Aconsistentandstablepolicy,legal,andregulatoryenvironmentatthenational,regional,
and district levelthat supportsthe private sector and agricultural development
 Sustainable natural resource management that supports increases in productivity
 Research and development that supports innovation in the target value chains
 Financial and other supporting services to allow for value chain growth, especially
for agribusinesses and processors
2
ACDIVOCA Agro Horizon Project FY 2016 Year 2 work plan Final submitted to USAID on 30 July 2015
3
ACDIVOCA Agro Horizon Project FY 2016 Year 2 work plan Final submitted to USAID on 30 July 2015

8
Country context & gender VC analysis: Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked nation in Central Asia, a
lower middle income country, GDP of which is US $ 7.4 Billion (WB 20144), 65% of the
country’s territory (total: 199,951 square kilometers) is mountainous part. Unlike its
neighbors, Kyrgyzstan has few natural resources to boost its economy. The country’s main
exports include gold, textiles, fruit and vegetables. In addition, remittances from an estimated
one Million Kyrgyz migrants in Kazakhstan and Russia contribute 28% of the country’s Gross
National Product (GNP). Kyrgyzstan’s population of 5.8 Mio. People (WB 2014) is primarily
rural, ‘only about 35% of the population live in the urban centers of Bishkek, Osh, and Jalal-
Abad. An estimated one third of the population lives below the poverty line.’5
‘The USAID/ Kyrgyz Republic is now a stand-alone Mission, aligned with the USG’s Central Asia
diplomacy and development priorities, but responding to development challenges that are
unique to the Kyrgyz Republic and its recent history. Generally, missions in the Central Asian
Republics have not focused specifically on addressing gender equality and female
empowerment (GEFE) in their portfolios but have had programs for many years to increase
the number of women participating in their training programs. With the development of its
first Country Development Cooperation Strategy 2014-2019 (CDCS), the mission requested a
Gender Analysis to understand the gender inequality issues in Kyrgyz Republic so that
attention to GEFE would be integrated throughout its strategy and projects going forward.’ 6
The study revealed that ‘Both men and women play important roles in agricultural value
chains in the Kyrgyz Republic. However, the contributions that women make to the sector are
not fully recognized. Women manage household plots and livestock production as well as
providing a significant amount of labor in agricultural fields. There is a notable gender gap
favoring men in the management of family farms and larger livestock operations, in leadership
in agribusiness, and in employment in agricultural extension services. Although women have
high levels of participation in household agro processing and in informal agricultural trade,
their ownership and management of formal small and medium enterprises is relatively low.
Women farmers and entrepreneurs have less access than men to resources such as
technology, credit, and trainings or advisory services. Closing these gender gaps and bringing
women into the formal Kyrgyz economy could strengthen agricultural value chains at the
production, processing, and marketing levels’7
Agro Horizon has identified priority crops (Livestock, Potato, Apricot, Onion, Maize, Nursery)
that present the most viable opportunities for engaging smallholder farmers and improving
the value chain to realize market opportunities. These crops were selected based on
information from value chain assessments, market research, stakeholder discussions, and
initial catalyzing grant activities8. The project also considered raspberry, strawberry among 12
4
www.worldbank.org/en/country/kyrgyzrepublic
5
Switzerland’s Cooperation in Kyrgyzstan February 2013,
www.eda.admin.ch/content/dam/deza/en/documents/laender/factsheet-kirgistan_EN.pdf
6
Gender analysis for USAID/Kyrgyz Republic, August 2013, p-7
7
brief on gender roles, gaps, and opportunities in agriculture value chains in the Kyrgyz republic, agro horizon project 2014,
p-1
8
ACDI VOCA Agro Horizon Project Year 2 work plan, July 2015 p-11

9
other crops as there is always the possibility of including one of these products (or a new
product altogether) should a reasonable market opportunity be uncovered.9
‘Gender analysis is the first step toward understanding the gender issues that are relevant to
value chain operations. Gender analysis identifies the gender relations that structure how
smallholder households are organized and how they interact with other firms and economic
processes. Ideas about gender relations shape the opportunities that are available to men and
women throughout the value chain’10.
From the secondary data it was also revealed that, Kyrgyzstan cultivates Raspberries and
Strawberries over 175000 hectares (60% Raspberry, 40 % Strawberry), has been a source of
steady incomes for 175 000 households and for 19 processing plants11 most have outdated
technology, few quality standards, and little knowledge of modern marketing practices, and
thus a driving force in agricultural economic growth for the country.
More than 450 thousand women farmers benefit from growing berries, over 70% of workers
at the processing plant are women, there are several women entrepreneurs involved in the
sector. 12
The majority of the berries grown in Kyrgyzstan are varieties13 suitable for processing (some
of which produces jams/concentrate and juices) grown in homestead areas, less in open fields
using outdated technologies and with relatively low yields. However, more and more
entrepreneurs are emerging in the North/South of the country, who started producing berries
in large volume.14
Strawberry total annual production in KR is only 6 thousand tons, Raspberry 4 thousand
tons;15 nonetheless, KR’s average strawberry crop yields are still lower (average yields of
raspberry are estimated in the KR at 6 tons per hectare; average yields of strawberry in KR are 11 tons
per hectare,16
which is much less than those of most berries growing/competing countries
(Strawberries yield: USA-No.1, Kyrgyzstan- No.59, Kazakhstan- No. 58, Russia- No. 51, source:
http://factfish.com/statistic-country ).
Analyzing the trade balance of Kyrgyzstan, the country confirmed growing trends in exports
of processed beverage/fruit drinks/juice products over the last 5 years: Food and agricultural
exports accounted for 10% of all exports of the country. For example, Jalalabad Oblast
contributes 19% of crop production in monetary terms. In addition, agriculture is the most
important economic sector in terms of income and employment in Jalalabad Oblast.
9
ACDI VOCA Agro Horizon Project Year 2 work plan, July 2015 p-11
10
See Candida March, Ines Smyth, and Maitrayee Mukhopadhyay, A Guide to Gender-Analysis Frameworks,
London: Oxfam Publishing, 1999.
11
Analysis of VC in Kyrgyzstan, key figures of VC -strawberries and Raspberries, a Research is supported by ICCO
Cooperation in Central Asia and HELVETAS Swiss Intern cooperation, 2014 p-81
12
do
13
A rank in a taxonomic classification, below species and subspecies of plant (here Strawberry/raspberry)
14
Cooperation in Central Asia and HELVETAS Swiss Intern cooperation, 2014, page 86.
15
Do, page 83
16
Do page- 82

10
According to the Department of Agriculture of the Oblast government, up to 80% of the active
workforce is engaged in agriculture. The strong agricultural base in Jalalabad Oblast has also
contributed to agro and food processing capacity which is essential for value addition of
agricultural produce. The service sector is also an important sector for the agriculture sector
in Jalalabad Oblast since it provides essential services for value addition, efficiency and
effectiveness of agricultural production and processing17. But as per analysis of VC -
Strawberries and Raspberries, a research supported by ICCO cooperation in Central Asia and
Helvetas Swiss intern cooperation, most berries are produced in Chui Oblast(province): 80%
of all strawberries and 65% of all raspberries and over 60% of berries are processed into jams
and other products, 35% are consumed fresh and less than 5% processed into higher added
value products, primarily jams, compotes, fruit drinks and dried berries.
According to official customs statistics, the volume of export of berries has increased in the
last several years. Partially, it is due to appearance of new entrepreneurs and farms, oriented
to production and exports of berries. There was a big jump in export of berries starting from
2010. While in 2009 it was zero, which jumped to 2334 Tons (costing around 4.7 million USD)
in 2011 and but it was downed to 907 tons in 2012. There are two major destinations for
strawberry, exported from Kyrgyzstan: Kazakhstan and Russia.
Most strawberry is exported to the largest wholesale markets of Kazakhstan (Almaty and
Astana cities) and to processing plants of Kazakhstan (which further process strawberry into
higher added value products).18 Raspberry is also exported primarily to Kazakhstan. According
to official statistics, it has already been exported to Russia and the United Arab Emirates, but
over 99% of raspberry goes to Kazakhstan. Major competitors of Kyrgyzstan for the Kazakh
strawberry market are China, Netherlands, Turkey and Israel and Major competitors of
Kyrgyzstan for the Kazakh raspberry market are Israel, Netherlands and the United States.19
Analysis of the market of Kyrgyzstan revealed that over 95% of local population processes
berries in home conditions and make ‘Varenie’ (jams) for own consumption throughout the
year. Less than 5% of population does not make home processing and prefers buying
industrially made jams. Most such buyers reside in larger cities of Kyrgyzstan. According to
conducted survey20, the major reasons for home processing are (1) a habit/customs/tradition
– 80%, (2) no trust to local processors – 9%, (3) no money for buying it in shops – 6%, and (4)
taste preferences to home made products – 5%.
The cost of jam production of one kg. of berries at processor’s plant level is around 250 Com
(whereas 60-65 to 110 Com (depending on time of the year) is farmers price other added
value for collection, procurement, packaging, addition of sugar, labor cost, storage cost +
processor’s margin etc.), wholesale price is 300 Com/kg. and retail price at bazaar/market
17
Marianne Sulzer, value chain analysis presentation of findings of value chain analysis and intervention design promotion
of sustainable economic development in Kyrgyzstan, August, 2015
18
Cooperation in Central Asia and HELVETAS Swiss Intern cooperation, 2014
19
Do page 84
20
For a research supported by ICCO Cooperation in Central Asia and HELVETAS Swiss Intern cooperation, 2014

11
level is around 400-420 Com/kg.21 (added value for strawberry and raspberry, processed into
jams was calculated based on information of the season 2013).
Raspberry and strawberry jams are the most popular jams inside the country. Berries,
traditionally, used for making home-made jams are either grown in own gardens/land plots
or procured at local markets. Most local sales of fresh berries are made at bazaars22. In berry
production it has been observed that one of the most challenging issues is lack of good
varieties23 of Strawberries and Raspberries. In many cases farmers grow berries of different
varieties of unknown origin in one place. Farmers mostly borrow strawberry and raspberry
seedlings from each other. So as berry is perennial crop (strawberry grows four-five years in
one place, raspberry grows up to ten years’ i n o n e p l a c e ) . S t rawberries become
smaller sized further years. There are no berry nurseries or selection institutes at state level
in Kyrgyzstan.
The major markets for locally produced fresh berries are:
- Local bazaars (Osh and Dyikan bazaars in Bishkek, local communitybazars);
- Local processors (Lesson Product, Golden Sun, Agro-Plast, Kristal, Osko,etc.);
- Export to the markets of Kazakhstan (Almaty Ordo market, Astana market);
economic analysis of production of strawberries and raspberries: one of the outcomes of
field experimental activities on the work with the beneficiaries of the project Agro Horizon
was ‘economic analysis’ of a field experiment conducted by social fund of the center of
studies, consultation, and innovation (www.taic.kg) under the USAID Agro Horizon project
for the period April-May 2015 according to the contract No. BIS-006-FAA shows encouraging
results, which demonstrated the impact of the project through the provision of training and
advice, and also become the foundation/basis for planning for the next year.
When conducting trainings on farm economics and economic analysis, farmer Groups (FG)
leaders were trained in theory and practice for proper planning and drawing up the economic
analysis. In All 45 farmer groups the economic analysis was conducted by farmer leaders and
farmers taking into account the costs and income of farmers.
This analysis was carried out in comparison to other crops, the production of which involved
the same farmers, i.e. This was in particular potatoes, onions and Maize(corn).
PROFITABILITY
The results of the above economic analysis showed greater profitability of cultivation of berry
crops.
21
do
22
Cooperation in Central Asia and HELVETAS Swiss Intern cooperation, 2014 page 85
23
Species variation of a crop adaptable not only to specific agro climatic conditions but also have the desirable
potentials to yield good

12
In particular, it was found that in berry crops, where the difference in the net profit as
compared to other crops exceeded 500% in favor of Raspberry (below table) in comparison
to Maize, and 218% in favor of Strawberries in comparison to Maize.
Table 1: Economic and profitability analysis of cultivation of berries
Soft fruits Yield
T/ha
Total
expenditure
Com /ha
Average
selling
rate/kg
Com
Total
income
Com/ha
Net
profit
Com/ha
Net profit from a hectare in
comparison to (% more
than)
Maize potato onion
Strawberries 10 546000 110 1100000 554000 218 140 115
Raspberries 9.2 246500 110 1012000 765500 500 324 270
Note: total expenditure included seedlings/runners cost which will be less in next years to come, for Strawberries
(4-5 years)– 300 000 Cом/ha, Raspberries (10 years)– 30000 Cом/ha.
Source: Final report (in Russian) of activities conducted by social fund of the center of studies,
consultation, and innovation (www.taic.kg) under the USAID Agro Horizon project for the period
April-May 2015 according to the contract No. BIS-006-FAA.
Berries have been one of Kyrgyzstan’s export products to Kazakhstan and Russia for the last 6
years. the country’s main berry export is fresh Strawberries and raspberries. There is a large
potential for shifting from fresh fruits exports into exports of frozen fruits, frozen retail packs,
and value-added products such as dried berries (air and freeze dried), berry-based culinary
ingredients (powders, extracts), concentrates and purees, organic products, and other retail
products. A large number of people could be involved in production of fresh fruits at rural
level, in processing plants- workers could be employed in the sector, now more than 175,000
farmers involved in production of raspberries and strawberries, some farms grow both.
Production of these berries could be further increased in Kyrgyzstan.
Organic production of berries24 is well established and growing in Kyrgyzstan, but insufficient
in quantity. (according to interviews conducted) With growing demand in the world market
for organic berries, berry ingredients, and berry products, local production could be further
enhanced.
There is increasing local demand for processed raspberries, strawberries, and for juices and
preserves.
VALUE CHAIN MAP
Vale chain stages:
1. Inputs for raspberry and strawberry production
The major producers use the following inputs like seedlings-in most cases either buy from
market or neighbors; land- in most cases own land; entrepreneurs rent additional land;
24
Use only organic fertilizer, no chemical fertilizer for production

13
fertilizers- organic and chemical like- salphates and amorphous are the most popular types
brought mostly from market; labor- a lot of labor is required, one of the major item of
expenditure, chemicals - for plant protection is brought from market or from neighbors,
irrigation-manual, hose pipe, drip irrigation ( if big field)
2. Domestic production
3. Collection, processing
4. Domestic sales/trade at bazaar/domestic market
5. export-foreign trade
Export to processors in Kazakhstan (Anadolu Marketing, Golden Food and other enterprises,
located in the area of Kazakhstan).
(please see the following value chain map for Strawberries and Raspberries applicable to
Kyrgyzstan, this map was adopted from “Analysis of VC in Kyrgyzstan, key figures of VC -
strawberries and Raspberries, a Research supported by ICCO Cooperation in Central Asia and
HELVETAS Swiss Intern cooperation, 2014” page 86)
Fig. 1: Value chain Map for Strawberries, raspberries applicable for Kyrgyzstan
Value Chain for Berries Service
Providers
Foreign
Markets
Export Foreign
processors
Wholesale
rs
Retailers
Bazaars/
markets
Processing
plants: 5%
Export
Sales
Processing
Financial
institutions
(FINCA, Bai
Tushum, banks);
Agri-consulting
(TES, RAS);
KyrgyzAgroBioC
entre;
Central
Specialized
Control
Toxicological
Laboratory
Kyrgyz Agro
Chemical Soil
Station
Collectors
Home
processing:
60%
Individual Peasant Farms and households: 99%>175.000
Collection
Production
Input
Land Seedlings Fertilizers Chemicals Labor
VC stages
Irrigation

14
Stages of the VC are: inputs, (land, seedlings/runners, fertilizers, chemicals, labour, irrigation)
production, collection of fruits, processing of fruits, sales, including exports to foreign markets
or foreign processors. It has been shown the inter relationship of different actors in the VC in
the above map.
METHODOLOGY25
This study was intended to:
1. To find out answers of four basic questions: 1.a. Who(male/female/both/boys/girls)
does what in the chain? 1b. Who determines how things are done? 1c. What service
and support men and women berries growers are receiving and what are lacking? 1d.
What are the challenges they face in VC including in marketing, processing their
products and utilization/control of sales proceeds?
2. Actor analysis in value chain of soft fruits in 4 intervention regions of work of Agro-
Horizons in Kyrgyz Republic.
The study adopted a methodology and questionnaire for the FGD and probable questions for
the key informant interviews (KII)26.
These included the following: 3 activities
1. A form filled up by the target focus group participants of Strawberries and Raspberries
to have the information on demographic breakdown.
2. Focus Group Discussions(FGD) with 4 males and 4 female’s groups in Agro Horizon
project four oblasts to know who plays what role/have the responsibilities in different
stages of VC.
The gender analysis was managed to 59 respondents (29 males, 30 female farmers) in the
rural areas in the Raions of Chatkal, Naryn, Kara-Suu, Leilek and Ashkalak. These geographical
areas /districts are renowned for berries production as per beneficiary’s survey conducted by
Agro-Horizon project in 2015.
Table 2: FGD Stakeholders and ‘Rion’s Covered
Oblast Raion FGD Soft fruit Basic trainings
received from
Agro Horizon
Jalalabad Chatkal 1 men / 1
women group
Strawberry- /
Raspberry
Yes
Naryn Naryn 1 men / 1
women group
Strawberry-/
Raspberry /
No
Osh Kara-Su 1 men / 1
women group
Strawberry- /
Raspberry
No
Batken Leilek 1 men / 1
women group
Strawberry- /
Raspberry
No
25
For Details of the methodology and work plan, please see annexure A
26
Please see annexure A for details

15
3. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with the following Key informants in different locations
Table. 3: List of the stakeholders for KII and the Location27
KII stakeholders
Location
rural advisory /extension agro-service provider-1, market
trader-1, district level government agronomist - 1
, Ala-Buka, Jalalabad
Rural advisory /Agro-service expert-1, trader of berries at
local market-1
Naryn
District level government agronomist-1, Rural advisory Agro-
service providers/experts-2,
Osh, Kara-Suu
Government agronomist-1, Extension rural advisory service
provider-1, traders at local bazaar-1, Owners/Chief Engineer
of Berries/fruits/vegetables Processing Factory -2
Leilek, Kyzyl-Kia, Batken
The aim of each of those research tools was to collect information from both men and women
berries producers on gender roles and relations along the agricultural value chain and collect
opinions of Key informants who play different roles in VC of soft fruits production, marketing,
processing and other levels. What are the best conditions to grow these soft fruits, which
areas in KR are best suitable to grow these fruits in terms of feasibility, profitability and
marketing, which crop is more profitable, raspberry or strawberry depending on location
factor, under which marketing circumstances are they profitable (import substitution, selling
on fresh market, selling to processing company etc.)?
Those findings in this report described the findings of primary and secondary data collection
that took place during 22 working days of January- February, 2016.
The study design employed a mix of methods, small portion (form filling up) of which focused
on quantitative information/data while all others focused on qualitative data obtained
through FGDs and KIIs. There was no study bias towards one of these types of data, but overall
the approach favored gathering data from multiple sources on all questions and foster
strangulations using varying types of data to enhance the quality and ensure the reliability of
answers the report provided to questions. Thus, for Question 1a,1b, 1c, 1d and Question 2
data were expected to be more qualitative in nature. Ultimately, the majority of the
information used to address the questions was qualitative in nature.
JUSTIFICATION FOR SELECTING THIS VC SUB-SECTOR
“Gender analysis of the value chain of soft fruits (Strawberry and Raspberry)” theme was
unanimously selected by the experts in a participatory meeting headed by Chief of Party
27
Key informant’s names, designations, areas of expertise and answers to main questions has been noted and
shown in Annexure B.

16
attended by Dy. COP, gender team, M&E Director and consultant of the Agro Horizon
project.28
Based on the Eight following criteria29 Strawberry and Raspberry subsectors were selected as
these fruits have excellent:
 Solid demand of fresh and processed fruits at home and abroad
 Income Potential for women growers
 Large growth potential for exports of fresh fruit, frozen retail packs, and value-added
products such as dried berries, culinary ingredients (powders, extracts, etc.),
concentrates and purees, organic products, and other retail products
 Importance to Food Security and Nutrition for Agro Horizon project
 Impact on Women: Gender and Youth participation.
 Reach: Number and distribution of potential beneficiaries
 Relevance: Appropriate for both household and commercial farms; relative current
importance in local agriculture.
 Good profitability, Potential for intensification/expansion
 Potential for Agro Horizon project success
28
Meeting was held on 11 January 2016 in Bishkek, Agro Horizon Project. For Details, please see annexure A
29
Kyrgyzstan Agro-Horizon VC analysis-fanal-15 Dec 2014 page 6-8

17
CHAPTER II: FINDINGS- DEMOGRAPPHIC BACKGROUND OF FG PARTICIPANTS
This section gives demographic background of FGD participants. This information was
collected from FGD respondent’s quick questionnaire filling survey in all four areas. The forms
were delivered to all 59 respondents from the Rions (districts) of Batken: total 18
respondents, in Osh 10 respondents, in Jalalabad 17 respondents and in Naryn 13
respondents. These districts (see the below map) were selected as they are USAID Agro
Horizon project districts area. A total of 29 males and 30 female respondents-berries
producers at rural areas were given to fill up the questionnaire. All questionnaire survey
respondents were rural farmers-strawberries or raspberries or both soft berries growers.
Fig 2: Map of Kyrgyzstan
FINDINGS
Out of 59 participants, 49% were male, 51% female, age of 48% respondents were of 21-40
years of age group, rest 52% were of 41 to 60 years old age group, there was any participant
of lower than 20 years of age.
To better understand decision-making process within the households, survey first sought to
ascertain how many among the respondent’s households in the target geographical areas are
headed by women.
It was revealed that 20% of the female participants were women headed householders. (who
as a female was either divorced, widowed or single and responded that she also herself the
head of the household).
Among the participants, 72% were married, 7% widowed, 15% divorced, 7% single.
Participants were asked to indicate the relationship to house hold-head of each of their
households. 12% of respondents are living currently with their parents/in laws/close relatives
under the same roof, 33% live with their spouse, 55% own ‘self’. (details about the information

18
of respondents from all 4 regions could be seen in table 4 and in separate diagrams drawn as
per the information given by the participants, in the annexure F).
When it was asked ‘How much land does your households have’? All respondents from all 4
oblasts have reported that they own their own ‘sotka’, it means that 100% respondents have
their own House Hold land and nobody rented any land for cultivation.
Table: 4 DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF FGD PARTICIPANTS
Rion Gender Age group Who is the head of
household %
Live with
household
head %
Marital status % How much
land cotka
yes/No %
Male
%
Female
%
20<
%
21
To
40
%
41
To
60
%
Parents/
in laws
%
Spouse
%
Self
%
Yes
%
No
%
Singl
es
%
Marr
ied
%
Wid
owe
d
%
Divorc
ed
%
Own
sotka
%
Rent
ed
%
Osh 60 40 0 40 60 20 10 70 90 10 0 56 11 33 100 0
Batken 28 72 0 50 50 0 50 50 89 11 6 70 12 12 100 0
Jalalbad 35 65 0 41 59 12 29 59 85 15 0 77 8 15 100 0
Naryn 29 71 0 62 38 14 43 43 100 0 7 86 0 7 100 0
Average
%
49% 51% 0 48 52 12 33 55 91 9 6 72 7 15 100 0
All respondents have their high school level of education and thus it will be easy to train
women or sensitize men and women and their involvement in building future capacity and to
inform easily men, women farmers through any capacity building training by using
promotional materials or establish market linkages through facilitation, if needed. (Building
their capacity and linking them to markets allows them to turn their family responsibilities into
businesses30).
30
Gender and value chain, practical tool kit, agro-pro focus, 2012

19
CHAPTER III: GENDER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 31
OF PRODUCTION
SEGMENT OF SOFT FRUITS VALUE CHAIN IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF
KYRGYZSTAN
Agro Horizon Project asked participants a series of same questions32 during conduction of FGD
with male and female groups separately regarding who is responsible for making various
agricultural production related decisions within each participant’s household. This was done
to determine the appropriate design and targeting of various project activities. Female
participants indicated whether they were responsible for making those decisions, whether
their husbands or other adult males made those decisions, or whether they made those
decisions together with their husbands. Male respondents also could identify whether they
or another adult male made those decisions, whether their wife made those decisions, or
whether they made those decisions together with their wives.
During FGDs, the responses of participant as recorded on the flip charts in male, female groups
in 4 different regions found that, in caring for plant-weeding, caring for plants-trimming,
harvesting, sorting, packaging, storing, other value addition for marketing (not always
though), marketing/selling of produce, price negotiation or bargaining, control of sales
proceeds are solely done by women, some works like planting, decision about method of
fertilization/ and pest & disease control, over income for spending, organic fertilizing are
done by ‘both’ male and female. Sometimes children also help.
Depending on the regions, participant’s answer to same question like ‘who selects variety of
Raspberry/Strawberry crop?’ Answers differed. In Osh, when men and women were in a
mixed group, the answers were that ‘men’ do the job of land preparation, buying runners,
acquiring agro inputs (fertilizer, insecticides etc.) But in Batken, Jalalabad, women and men’s
group, the participants told that this work is done by ‘women’.
The FGD results showed differences in perception of decision-making authority for many of
the topics addressed. In many instances like ‘applying pest and disease control,’ harvesting
where women viewed both she and her husband had decision-making authority, male
respondents from Batken opined that those works were carried out by women, both women
and men groups indicated that they alone or along with other members of the family were
responsible for making some of those decisions. These differences in perception aside, a
majority of both males and females indicated that both shared authority on ‘how to spend
money.’ Individual participation in the workforce was another area in which men and women
indicated that ‘both’ they and their spouses were involved. While the majority of men
perceived they alone were responsible for making decisions regarding selection of variety,
buying runners, land preparation, fertilizing, acquiring agricultural inputs like fertilizer,
pesticides, insecticides, irrigation or which agricultural inputs to purchase, majority of the
31 socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and
women, "What do we mean by "sex" and "gender"?". WHO.int. World Health Organization. 2015.
32
Please see Annex A for questions, Annexure D for details answers to those questions of Male/Female groups
as recorded and Annex E FGD respondents’ data from 4 regions

20
women group participants indicated that they were involved with their spouses in making
those decisions.
While analysed the findings from the same questions but in different regions it was revealed
that the gender roles and responsibilities differ, though not substantially, from regions to
regions. For example, in osh/ kara suu, village: josh (ayil okmotu) participants of mixed male
and female group in response to the question “who does the work of ‘variety’ selection of
Strawberries-Raspberries?”, the participants answered that decision on variety selection
depended on who has more knowledge, but all answered that this decision was in practice
always taken by ‘men’. But all participants in reply to the question ‘who buys runners?’ replied
that this role was played by sometimes women, sometimes by men. Similarly, land
preparation work, acquiring agro-inputs, decision about fetching water, or applying of
fertilizer method or controlling pest/disease, marketing, controlling sales proceeds, decision
over spending of money were carried out by ‘male’ but sometimes jointly made jointly by
‘both’ of them. (please see the summary of responses of focus group discussions in all 4
regions by male and female groups shown at table 5).
It is evident from the above analysis that, though women play the leading role in majority of
activities in berry production, processing and marketing steps, but the ownership of land
including fixed assets belong to men.
ASSESSMENT ON ACCESS TO AND CONTROL OVER RESOURCES
Assessment of ‘access to and control of resources’ has been a fundamental tool of gender
analysis. It was learned from the information gathered during the FGD in 4 different regions,
has been summarised in the matrix shown in Annexure G. Focus was on who owns the
fundamental assets used in agriculture production VC stage. Responded women’s access to
land, machineries, tunnel, agriculture inputs, credit, knowledge etc. show that, the authority
on those assets and decisions making process mostly controlled by men and men are the legal
owners of land including households, and such a picture is observed in all 4 regions.
Access to and control over resources are critical to people’s identities and livelihoods,
autonomy and rights.33 Yet, historically, due to gendered divisions of labour as it was seen in
all 4 regions, patriarchal social-cultural norms and economic inequalities, women in all their
diversity have been denied in real sense access to resources and control over them by men,
such as the ownership of land, right to sell them, and use of technologies etc.
33
http://www.forum.awid.org/forum12/about-the-forum-theme/access-to-control-of-resources/

21
Table: 5: SUMMARY OF FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS IN ALL REGIONS BY MALE AND FEMALE GROUPS
Focus Group Women Men
Activity by region Osh Batken Jalalabad Naryn Osh Batken Jalalabad Naryn
Selection of variety Men34 Women Women Men Men Women Men Women
Buy runners (or seeds) Men Women Women Women Men Women men Women
Land preparation Men men Men Men Men men Men men
Fertilizing (organic or chemical) Men both Men Men Men Women Men Women
Acquiring agro inputs (fertilizer, insecticides etc.) Men Men Men Men Men Women Men men
Planting Women both Women Women Women men women Men
Caring for plants -mulching Men men men both Men men both Women
Caring for plants -weeding Women Women Women Women Women women women Women
Caring for plants -trimming Women Women Women Women Women men women Women
Fetching water/irrigating Men men Men Men Men Women Men both
Decides about method of fertilizing and p+d control All help both Men both both Women Men men
Applying pest control both Men both both Women Men Women
Applying disease control both Men Men Men men Women Men Women
Harvesting Women Women Women Women Women both Women Women
Sorting Women Women Women women Women women Women Women
Packaging Women Women women women Women women Women Women
Storing Women Women Women women women Women Women Women
Other value addition for marketing Women Women Women women Women women Women both
Marketing / selling Women Women Women Women Women Women Women Women
Price negotiation or bargaining women Women Women Women women Women women Women
Control sales proceeds women Women Women Women women Women Women Women
Decision over income for spending Men Women Women both Men both both both
34
when majority of the FGD participants agreed on this issue, ‘who is doing what’ FGD facilitator recorded ‘men’ or ‘women’ or ‘both’

22
BEST LOCATION FOR GOOD PRODUCTION
Climatic conditions of Central (Chui), and Northern part (Issyk-Kul, Talas) South-Western part
- Batken of Kyrgyzstan is most favorable (see table 5), the agricultural opportunities, especially
in terms of fruits and berries, are significant. A specific and market oriented approach in 2
product VC could increase agribusiness performance and improve the regions overall socio-
economic situation.
Table: 5 Location of production
Berry Location in Kyrgyzstan (province) %35
Chui Issyk-Kul Talas Batken Others areas
Raspberry 65 15 10 10
Strawberry 80 10 5 5
The climatic conditions such as average temperature, day length and rain fall and other
environmental indicators of Kyrgyzstan favor berries growing in this country. Kyrgyzstan’s
climate is continental, with cold winters, and warm and sunny summers, but cooler in the
mountains. Average precipitation is moderate in the country as a whole but less during
summer, while the east-central (Naryn Oblast) is arid. The Target berries production areas of
the project i.e. Osh, is located in the south-west at 1,000 meters of altitude Batken, Jalal-Abad,
at 750 meters. During spring-the beginning period of Berries plantation between March in
Jalalabad, Osh, Batken but for Naryn is May due to prolonged winter. Throughout the year,
300 mm of rain or snow fall, so the climate is still arid, but the pattern is different from the
Osh, Batken or Jalalabad because there is a relative minimum precipitation in winter and a
maximum in late spring, with rain even in summer, reflecting the fact that the Average
monthly precipitation distribution shows that rainfall conditions are favorable for growing
berries without irrigation in Naryn. (Please read ‘Climatic conditions VS Soft berries production
in KR’ at Annexure H).
On the production level, most of the strawberries and raspberries growers are small size
farmers. As a result, production is fragmented and diversified, resulting in higher costs per
unit than those of large farms that have specialized production. The average field owned by
a single household (1/3 of a hectare) is often not suitable for modern commercial production
due to physical obstacle in the use of mechanization and organization of further standardized
production methods. (KII) There are almost no cooperatives and producer’s organizations,
though this need is imperative, especially if one considers that with active and appropriate
participation, they could help each other to improve production performance/outcome.
The producers usually do not pay attention to the post-harvesting practices, such as cleaning
and calibration and keeping the plant in good condition for the next spring season and most
of these activities are left as it is for the next spring. Adequate equipment for this is lacking
35
Source: Analysis of VC in Kyrgyzstan, key figures of VC -strawberries and Raspberries, a Research supported by
ICCO Cooperation in Central Asia and HELVETAS Swiss Intern cooperation, 2014 page 81

23
and small farmers do not want to invest in such tools which are too expensive for a small
household holder’s farmers.
Processing is mainly organized by small companies, which are still in development stage.
Though they are in processing business for the last 50 years. They are buying and preserving,
processing and packaging end results in factory of fruits like apples, Raspberries, tomatoes,
cucumber, pumpkin, making different types of juices mixed and 100% fresh and without
mixing preserving chemicals. That’so why they have wide markets in Russian and inside
Kyrgyzstan. The number of workforce differs from season to season. These processing plants
are now under private sector, previously under government. These are mostly owned by men.
The processing plants are working on heavy technologies of old Soviet era, need to be
revamping or replacing by modern technologies/ building new ones then they could make the
products 100% pure and attractive for buyers. Biggest constraints are flow of raw materials
throughout the year, old machines, low output rate and resources for changing all these. They
have educated engineers, good workers but lack of all these do not allow them to change the
factory to compete with world standards. They are also lacking appropriate processing and
ancillary equipment, proper hygiene and sanitation practices, poor quality control systems,
inappropriate packaging materials and high packaging costs, poor and unappealing labeling,
absence of branding to differentiate from competitors etc.
Most of the heavy works at processing plants are done by men and less heavy works are done
by women. One of the constraints for women workers is that they cannot manually handle
big/large size of the bottles, packages, and containers of processed products- this is not only
a problem for female workers but also for female customers, but for female shop owners as
well. Kyrgyzstan is much behind of other countries of the World in processing and marketing
of barriers. Due to lack of stable buyers outside of the country they cannot make stable
planning for production. They may increase the production of berries as they have lot fallow
fertile land and good experienced farmers. They have good market in Russia, Kazakhstan,
Mongolia but could not supply due to stable production orders from them. They also lacking
in operating capital, good management, business, and financial skills. The companies have an
acute need and enable future business. Further training of human resources in the processing
technology, food safety, standardization and new products development sectors is essential
for their potential export market position.
Extension service providers of private sector/NGOs are not in a position to provide services
to female small householders/produces for new production technologies that emerge as a
consequences of market trends unless they get any external financial support from donors.
On the local level, government planners/agronomist, though aware of the importance of the
agriculture sector planning, have close to no mechanisms, with which to monitor the sector’s
development and improve the linkages with VC players. The government people working at
the local level unable to respond promptly to the needs of agriculture producers, especially
women, and are limited in providing any support or service according to their
capabilities/needs of the people due to lack to budget from the government. Further
networking in this respect is essential for the development of strawberries/raspberries
products areas within the fruits and berries VCs in Kyrgyzstan.

24
DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION & MARKETING
RASPBERRIES
Out of 4 thousand tons of Raspberry production in Kyrgyzstan, 60% of berries are used by
farmers’ households which usually produce juices and jams from them for their personal
consumption, 35% of berries are consumed fresh. A small amount of raspberries, only 5% are
industrially processed. From a marketing point of view, most processing companies sell on
the domestic market and work as a sub-contractor for big national business player or from
partners from Russia/Kazakhstan. At present, they lack both the necessary knowledge and
resources in order to directly enter export markets. The need for support in this area is
significant as it influences not only their competitiveness on the market, but also provides a
direct entry point to markets; this will improve all VC links and enable a redistribution of the
higher margins to all VC players, especially the women small household producers.
STRAWBERRIES
According to official statistics, KR’s total production of strawberries reached 6 thousand tons
in 2013. Roughly 60 percent of all strawberries produced in Kyrgyzstan are home processed,
35 percent eaten fresh, and 5 percent sold locally to processors to be turned into jams,
concentrates, juices, and preserves. With such a high demand for local juice and preserve
processing, cold stores freeze only a small amount of strawberries.
Local consumers consume more fresh strawberries than other berries. Like raspberries,
strawberries are bought in bulk at local bazaar (markets) just to sell them quickly. Today, no
farmers and traders sell packed strawberries in bazaar or to supermarkets in KR.
Procurement prices for strawberry and raspberry for production purposes are almost the
same. One of the reasons is that plants buy berries in the regions, directly from famers. In
some cases, (for instance, Agro-Plast plant and Kristal processing Centre in Batken- (ref: KII
interview), farmers simply have no other buyers, and agree on conditions of agreement with
the plants /prices, suggested by Agro-plast/Kristal. But the producers sometimes breaching
the agreement with the processing plants sell the produces in the market when they see that
the local open market price is higher than the fixed prices of the factory. In the North (Naryn),
the price of fresh berries is higher, because there is a scarcity of fruits supply in that area and
there are also more buyers and farmers can negotiate//bargaintheprice&choose their buyers.
Berries also can be exported either by large farmers-entrepreneurs themselves or through
special agents/collectors.36
36
Cooperation in Central Asia and HELVETAS Swiss Intern cooperation, 2014 page 87

25
CHAPTER IV. VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY: CONSTRAINTS
AND OPPORTUNITIES
During the value chain analysis of strawberry and raspberry, following constraints were
identified:
 During the production stage of strawberries and raspberries there is acute lack of
access to sufficient irrigation water in Batken, Jalalabad and Osh; 20% land are
irrigated; others depend on ‘rain fed’ conditions. Lack of access to sufficient irrigation
water during plantation season of berries in Batken, Jalalabad, Osh hinder enhanced
production and increasing production areas by women. But in Nayn, the berries
producers do not face this problem.
 Inadequate agricultural extension and other services for women in all 4 intervention
areas of Agro Horizon Project. Lack of access to agricultural extension services has
contributed to reduced yields of berries production, and productivity is well below the
optimum. Women soft fruits growing communities have neither financial resources
nor have the technical knowledge to enhance production. There exist kknowledge
and information gaps, Lack of technical advice or advisory support – no extension
services at village level for women growers. As there is very llimited information and
knowledge about berry production, it is needed to create trainings opportunities for
women small house holds producers and new women growers.
 Lack of new high-yielding varieties (HYV) of seedlings of berries crops. there is any
good variety and there is any nursery for growing
runners/seedlings of berries. Lack of access to
different and productive varieties with good
quality. Supporting production of berries:
increasing volumes and reducing costs, and
improving quality so as to fulfilling the demand of
new high-yielding varieties (HYV) of seedlings of
berries crops, in most cases women farmers bring
runners/seedlings from neighbours or buy from local market. They get some old and
some new ones from long distance. Kyzyl Kia for Raspberry, Bishkek for Strawberry.
Access to high yielding varieties are limited for women. Low productivity of present
varieties cultivated. As a result, most women berries growers-farmers use
degenerated old varieties and have none or little access to modern technologies,
including machinery and equipment, needed for improved production.
 Inadequate access to markets and business for women; The major markets for locally
produced fresh berries and homemade ‘Varenie’37(jams) are: Local bazaars, neighbors
in Jalalabad, Osh and Naryn. Batken and Jalalabad women berries producers have
good access to agro-processors (like AgroPlast, Kristal at Batken ) and they are trying
to enhance their size of the plots to grow more and earn more. There is any marketing
problem in those areas. Processing plants are willing to buy all the fresh berries that
37
Варенье (Varenie) in Russian.
Please read the case study of a
woman (at annexure C), who is
dreaming of a good variety of
Raspberries and of a
technology to process her
products.

26
are available, as long as their delivery and quality are consistent. Processing plants are
paying slightly less than bazaar/open markets for the same quality, but are buying in
higher volumes. Once farmers are producing significant volumes of fresh berry with
an extended season, Kyrgyzstan may start focusing on other foreign markets, such as
retail chains.
 Agro-input (like organic and chemical fertilizer/ products) buying and carrying in big
packaging of inputs is one of the constraints to women purchasing these agro-inputs,
as well as carrying them home.
 Lack of Networking /groups: Women can be the part of women groups/networks and
NGOs to have better bargaining power for their produces.
 Lack of proper sorting, grading & packaging of soft fruits; Packaging for marketing
adding VC. Limited market access – broken value chains. Small packages could be
made at rural household level by the women growers to attract diversified buyers.
 Lack and unavailability of handy technology for processing and preservation of berries
by women who preserve/process berries at homestead level. Also there are shortage
of farm and processing machinery for women household users.
 Lack of appropriate technology for women for land preparation, irrigation and plant
protection.
 Lack of protection
mechanism/techniques to protect
fruits from birds and cattle. Birds
that eat the ripen berries and
cattle that walk over the plots of
the berries plants and destroy
plants and bushes.
 Biggest constraints for processing plants are flow of raw materials throughout the
year, old machines, low output rate and resources for changing all these. They have
educated engineers, good workers but lack of all these do not allow to change factory
to compete with world standards. Most processing factories are also lacking
appropriate processing and ancillary equipment, proper hygiene and sanitation
practices, poor quality control systems, inappropriate packaging materials and high
packaging costs, poor and unappealing labeling, absence of branding to differentiate
from competitors.
“I suppose that if they (women) could use small
power tillers for land preparations and any sort of
small spray machines for controlling pests and
diseases or any small pumps for irrigation when
there is dry season or a small handy processing
machine those could be of great help to women”-
a key informant

27
 Women workers of processing companies cannot manually handle big/large sizes of
the packages of raw materials and containers of processed products- this is not only a
problem for female workers but also for female customers, but for female shop
owners as well. That’s why It was suggested more women/children-friendly packaging
for producers and purchasers of processed fruits and juice.
 Kyrgyzstan is much behind of other countries of the World in processing and marketing
of barriers. KR produce good quality of berries, very testy and liked by all but due to
lack of buyers outside of the country, KR cannot make stable planning for production.
KR may increase production of berries as it has lot fallow fertile land and good
experienced farmers only few things are lacking, these are: lack of resources,
technologies, and foreign buyers. There is a good market in Russia, Kazakhstan,
Mongolia but KR could not supply due to stable production orders from them.
Processors also have lacking in operating capital, good management, business, and
financial skills professionals with low level of technological knowledge support for the
agro-processing arena and poor marketing and product promotion.
 Stable market and demand of buyers are the main challenges of women in supply
chain of these berries.
 Poor management skills of farmers and processors.
 Foreign direct investment is not yet significant in this subsector.
 Official and unofficial payment per cooling truck; border issues increase risks; China,
Kazakhstan becoming main competitor whose export prices are significantly more
competitive, most processing plants do not have ISO standard in place which hinders
from entering the markets of developed countries38
VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY: OPPORTUNITIES OF
SUBSECTOR
 Best areas for raspberries and strawberries growing is Chui, then Issyk-Kul, talas,
Jalalabad and Batken. There is huge potentiality for expansion of berries growing in Ala Buka
Rayon as the climate, soil is very much favorable for berries production. Best conditions
prevail in Batken oblast specifically KadamZai Region. Farmers of these region grow
berries at homestead areas of 10-30 sotok, mostly grow Raspberries and Strawberries.
These farmers are in the last few years suppling berries to south regions markets of
38
Analysis of VC in Kyrgyzstan, key figures of VC -strawberries and Raspberries, a Research supported by ICCO Cooperation
in Central Asia and HELVETAS Swiss Intern cooperation, 2014 page 90

28
the country. There is huge demand of the Strawberries and Raspberries fruits, that is
why farmers of this region are now growing these soft fruits in ½ and 1 hector of land
as profitability of their fruits are much higher than other crops. From marketing fruits
from 1 hector of land of These berries a farmer is earning 500,000 to 7,00,000 Com.
 Raspberries are more profitable than strawberries. it was found that in berry crops,
where the difference in the net profit as compared to other crops exceeded 500% in
favor of Raspberry in comparison to Maize, and 218% in favor of Strawberries in
comparison to Maize.
 Women are mostly responsible for selling berries in the market or to the processing
centers, women farmers have participated in Agro Horizon project organized training
as women berries growers have less access to extension services, technologies or
knowledge sharing but men have better access from different sources, The “Agro-
plast” and “Kristal”, local processing companies are supporting women berries
growers with agro-inputs and credit so that in return they sell the berries to the
company and reimburse the credit money with produce, If women will be given the
opportunity to trainings on production of berries they can come up with organizing of
their own groups for better bargaining with processing companies. They can come up
with value chain issues with the processing companies, Agro Horizon Project can
organize production oriented trainings for women berries growers, support them with
varieties, agro-inputs, technologies, value chain trainings, and linking with processing
companies, as in the long run, selling fruits to processing company will be more
sustainable than depending on open market. This is also creating market potential and
opportunities in general throughout the VC not only for farmers but also for
processing companies.
 Women farmers are convinced that there is a strong business case if
strawberry/raspberry farmers in the Central Region will use the modern variety and
which will increase the demand for information and expert advice about appropriate
growing techniques. Considering the demand and mainly women participation in
Strawberry/raspberry Value Chain with the contribution of community set up
Strawberry/raspberry Nursery with drip irrigation system as a visual sample for other
farmers.
 Huge marketing demand of fresh strawberries, Raspberries inside and outside of
Kyrgyzstan (consumers prefer locally produced berries, market is growing inside the
country, 60% of berries are home processed into jams and other products, 35% of
berries are consumed fresh, 5% of berries are industrially processed).
 Good export potential of berries in Kazakhstan, Russia. The volume of export of berries
has increased in the last years (from 1125 Tons in 2010 to 2334 tons in 2011 and 907
Tons in 2012 year). The demand keeps increasing; possibilities of increasing exporting
jams; there is no strong competitors.

29
 Introduction of High Yielding varieties of Strawberries and Raspberries in Kyrgyzstan
and creating of nurseries and growing them in nurseries/ greenhouse throughout the
year. Breeding new varieties utilizing ‘tissue culture technologies’ at specialized
laboratory.
 Build women’s capacity in business and marketing; training of farmers can bring lot
of improvements.
 Introduction of new services and technology for processing berries jams/drinks/
juices/ concentrates / preserves / freeze-drying berries/ utilization of fruits in
cosmetics companies.
 Iintroduce branding, new size and labeling, packaging; selling it packed in small 250g
and 500g punnets (small baskets for fruit) at local markets and to supermarkets at
higher prices.
 Availability of several processing plants in Kyrgyzstan, but volumes are still relatively
insignificant. Need cooperation among processors so that they revamp their old
technologies for processing of fruits and enhance capacities for production and
employment of women.
 Agro Horizon Project may target households as a basic economic unit; both men and
women within the household shall participate and benefit equally. Women will be
targeted for certain activities that they predominantly manage, such as kitchen garden
berries production. The programme may encourage the active participation of both
sexes in training activities and use of advisory services so that information is available
for joint household decision-making, so that women are not excluded from
management and operational tasks. Priority may be given to female-headed
households in targeting beneficiaries.
 Positive outcomes of berries production in small homestead land increased self-
confidence of rural women; increased decision-making capacity of Smallholder Female
Farmers at home, increased financial solvency; increased acceptance in the family and
society; and increased ability to provide their children with education and nutritious
food.
 Given the current small farm size and low productivity coefficients, there is ample
scope for improvement gender issues in VC and women’s empowerment giving the
right stimulation and incentives in the form of market access, which the Agro Horizon
Project seeks to address. Improving productivity per unit area as well as returns to
labour should increase women’s household incomes while stimulating the rural
economy in general. This is in keeping with the government strategy to improve
private sector efficiency and investment.
 Opportunity of ‘value-added’ products: Local consumers consume more fresh
strawberries and raspberries and convert partly to homemade jams. Today, few

30
number of traders sell packed strawberries, raspberries to supermarkets. Bazaar sales
of fresh strawberries and raspberries are growing. Year after year, supermarkets
absorbing tons of fresh berries. Raspberry juices and strawberry juices are produced
by some companies. Production of conventional dried berry products is also still
limited, since the conventional drying process requires the use of fresh berries.
Organic juices, concentrates, and purees, could be produced in KR as value added
produce and exported to foreign countries. Organic frozen berries also could be
exported.

31
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POSSIBLE
INTERVENTIONS
CONCLUSIONS
 Majority of the female and male participants of the FGDs and key informants indicated
that the positive outcomes of berries production in their own small homestead land
increased self-confidence; increased decision-making capacity of Smallholder Female
Farmers at home, increased financial solvency; increased acceptance in the family and
society; and increased ability to provide their children with education and nutritious
food they receive from berries consumption -fresh or Jams.
 Based on the outcome of Focus Group Discussions in the villages of 4 ‘rations’ visited,
and in addition to KIIs conducted with 13 key informants, extensive observations and
discussions with women and men farmers, it was revealed that in production, income
consumption & nutrition, marketing, supporting livelihoods, food security levels
women play crucial role in VC of Strawberries/raspberries. Based on that the Agro
Horizon Project may target households as a basic economic unit; both men and
women within the household shall participate and benefit equally. Women may be
targeted for certain activities that they predominantly manage. The programme may
encourage the active participation of both sexes in training activities and use of
advisory services so that information is available for joint household decision-making,
and so that women are not excluded from management and operational tasks. Priority
may be given to female-headed households in targeting beneficiaries.
 Given the current small farm size and low productivity coefficients, there is ample of
scope for improvement gender issues in VC and women’s empowerment giving the
right stimulation and incentives in the form of market access, which the Agro Horizon
Project seeks to address. Improving productivity per unit area as well as returns to
labour should increase women’s household incomes while stimulating the rural
economy in general. This is in keeping with the government strategy to improve
private sector efficiency and investment.
 Family and community support for female berries growers is crucial to their success
as women face unequal opportunities compared to men because of social customs
and norms. Typically, some women only become business person when she becomes
the head of her household.
 If women berries growers could organize groups or cooperative’s it would have given
the power for bargaining or negotiations with others for gaining benefit for

32
themselves. Women usually play the role of seller and vendor on the street or in bazar
their products berries. They usually sell their own products when they are new or at
the beginning of the season to get better price and when they products are abundant.
If women could organize and can produce berries in bigger plots or in the field they
could find a markets not only inside of the country but also outside of Kyrgyzstan.
They can also process the fruits at homestead level and sell them as processed
concentrate/jams (Varenye). Then they will automatically as per the need of time will
be interested to add value to their products and learn how to do that. Now only few
berries women growers in Batken/Jalalabad areas sell their berries to some old
processing factory. Agro Horizon project may support/ link women to those factories
and help with better women friendly technologies. Then’ automatically the women
berries growers of these areas will be benefited and other women will have
employment opportunities there.
 If women will be given the opportunity to trainings on production of berries they can
come up with organizing of their own groups for better bargaining with processing
companies. They can come up with value chain issues with the processing companies
and USAID-Agro Horizon project can organize production oriented trainings for
women berries growers, support them with new high yielding varieties, necessary
agro-inputs, technologies, value chain trainings, and linking with processing
companies.
 At Naryn area, some research works could be sponsored by Agro Horizon project to
conduct a research in 2-3 berries growing villages and give proper recommendations
on all stages of berries VC (production, marketing processing etc.) and VC of these
fruits for women’s economic empowerment.
 While some existing private fruits processing companies at Batken area have made
some efforts to incorporate women’s interests by signing agreement to ‘sell and buy’
and supporting financially for production of Strawberries and Raspberries during
berries growing season into their companies, others see this as a challenge which is
difficult to address.
 There exists weak support/cooperation between the local government and small scale
farmers.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POSSIBLE INTERVENTIONS
1. Facilitate providing knowledge and information to women berries growers by providing technical
advice/ advisory support/ extension services at village level of Agro Horizon project intervention
areas by creating trainings opportunities for women small house holds producers and new women
berries growers.

33
2. Assist in improvement of the quality of the current planting materials through technical training.
3. Disseminate the new knowledge and technology in a sustainable way making sure that women
and other small producers will be able to benefit in the economic activity
4. Secure high quality seedling material supply (of Raspberry & Strawberry) with the assistance of
partnership international nurseries. Support establishing/creation women friendly berry nurseries
for growing new HYV of Raspberries and Strawberries certified seedling materials and runners of
new varieties through implementation of grants and training at project intervention areas which
will increase the overall yields and income.
5. Consider supporting the establishment of vertical linkages between traders/processors and
number of female farmers through contract farming on pilot farms.
6. Facilitate establishing links of women berries growers with fruits agro-processing companies and
increase management capacities of company manager/staff through trainings
7. Facilitate organizing women in groups and cooperative.
8. Support with appropriate technology for women for land preparation, irrigation and plant
protection, packaging for marketing adding VC
9. Create mechanism/techniques to protect fruits from birds and cattle, handy technology for
processing and preservation for women who preserve/process berries at homestead level.
10. Provide farm and processing machinery for women household users.
11. Support technical training in the process of development of new innovative value added products
12. Support through trainings for introduction of food safety standards
13. Facilitate introduction of High Yielding varieties of Strawberries and Raspberries in Kyrgyzstan and
creating of nurseries and growing them in nurseries/ greenhouse throughout the year. Breeding
new varieties utilizing ‘tissue culture technologies at specialized laboratory.
14. Build women’s capacity in business and marketing through appropriate trainings.
15. Introduce new services and technology for processing berries jams/drinks/juices/ concentrates /
preserves39
/ freeze-drying berries. Iintroduce branding, new size and labeling, packaging.
39
‘Варенье (Varenye)’

34
Encourage selling it packed of small 250g and 500g punnets /small baskets for fruit at rural local
markets and urban supermarkets.
16. Facilitate cooperation among partners of processor chains so that they revamp their old
technologies for processing of fruits and enhance capacities for production and employment of
women.
17. Support development of direct linkages between the processors with identified export markets.
18. Support a preparation of detailed market analysis for domestic market and specific identified
export markets in Kazakhstan and Russia for North Kyrgyzstan regions.
19. For marketing competitiveness improvement support the links between women farmers
and processors/traders, support advocacy and marketing campaign, support in capacity
building of women’s associations, support the links with large supermarket chains

35
REFERENCES/SOURCES LIST
(OTHERS GIVEN: INSIDE REPORT/ON REFERENCE FOOTNOTES)
1 Analysis of selected value chains in Kyrgyzstan: apples, apricot, walnuts, kidney
beans, raspberry andstrawberry, ICCO, Helvetas, KR, Bishkek, 2015
2 Addressing gender equality in agricultural value chains: Sharing work in progress;
Anna Lavin and Noortje Verhart; March 2011
3 ACDI/VOCA Gender is Key to Smart Development and Empowering People; Women
and Men Central to Economic Growth in Emerging Markets;
http://www.acdivoca.org/gender-equity
4 ACDI/VOCA Gender Analysis Report KR Agro-Horizon project, 2015
5 ACDI/VOCA value chain frame work www.acdivoca.org/valuechains
6 Gender Value Chain analysis, Marianne Sulzer, 2015
7 Gender and value chains: practical toolkit to integrate gender prospective in agri. VC
development; Agro-pro Focus, 2014.
8 GIZ VC analysis, Promotion of sustainable economic development in Kyrgyzstan,
2015.
9 The methodology of Focus Groups: the importance of interaction between research
Participants; Jenny Kitzinger 2009.
10 The National Report on the state of the environment of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek,
2012
11 USAID handbook promotion gender equitable opportunities in Agro-VC,2009
12 USAID-Agro-Horizon project year 1 report, 2015
13 USAID Agribusiness project, Servia Cultivated berry VC assessment, 2008
Strawberry plant Raspberry plant

36
ANNEXURE - A
METHODOLOGY AND WORK PLAN
Gender analysis in value chain of Strawberry and Raspberry
Work Plan and anticipated methodology of gender value chain analysis tools that was used,
sampling plan, timeline of fieldwork, and drafts of all tools.
Methodology
ACDI/VOCA appointed short time Senior Gender Consultant initially developed the
methodology according to the SOW and later it was amended/revised through a 2-days long
discussion workshop with the gender team comprising of Agro Horizon Gender
Mainstreaming Manager, Ms. Umut Egemberdieva and Advisor for Women's Economic
Empowerment in M4P-Ms. Jane Gisin, during 14-15 January 2016 at Osh office of Agro
Horizon Project. This methodology and questionnaire was sent to COP with a copy to Director,
M&E, Agro Horizon project for approval. And it was followed by the consultant and the gender
team for conduction of 8 FGDs in 4 regions and the probable questions were also followed for
the key informant interviews (KII).
Work plan divided into 3 parts:
1. Conducted a desk review of publications and project documents related to gender and
VC in Kyrgyzstan.
2. Flew from Bishkek to Osh. Met all members of Agro Horizon project working in Osh.
Conducted a 2 days’ discussion workshop in Osh with gender team. During this time
the gender team with the consultant worked more on questions, detailed the work
plan and schedules, contacted key informants, finalized the list and FGD participants
and shared of questionnaire with the team and finalizing the questionnaire for FGD
and questions for KII. sending to COP & director M&E, sought financial/ administrative
approvals from COP for support service/logistic works. the team actualized/finalized
the questions for FGD and KIIs
3. As per finalized work plan the consultant with the gender team visited all 4 project
areas and conducted 8 FGDs and 13 KIIs
These included the following: 3
1. A Survey form which was filled up by the target focus group participants
(translated into Kyrgyz language)
2. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) (translated into Russian language) questions
3. Focus Group Discussions questionnaire (translated into Kyrgyz language)
The aim of each of these research tools was to collect information from both men and women
on gender roles and relations along the agricultural value chain. Specifically, the tools
assessed the following:

37
 Women’s and men’s roles in various stages/activities, ownership and decision
making over resources and assets of Strawberries/ Raspberries production and use
of agricultural inputs and other resources;
 To find out answers of four basic questions: 1. Who does what in the chain? 2. Who
determines how things are done? 3. What service and support men and women berries
growers are receiving and what are lacking? 4. What are the challenges they face in VC
including in marketing their products and utilization/control of sales proceeds?
 Actor analysis in value chain of soft fruits in 4 intervention regions of work of Agro Horizons
in Kyrgyz Republic
 Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informants Interviews (KII) were facilitated around
three themes; the tool provides guiding questions. FGD were started in small groups (e.g. men
and women separately) and continued in a joint one group of male and female farmers
together.
 The questionnaire in Kyrgyz language filling surveys was conducted by the three team
members + interpreters through the delivery of 80 questionnaires (40 Male + 40 female
berries growers) in 4 Rayon’s within 4 Oblasts (districts) in Agro Horizon target areas just
before starting of FGD. After the filling up of questionnaire in each oblast at least two FGD
were conducted by the Consultant/ Gender Team members for men and women separately.
Consultant also conducted all KIIs, which were held with extension service providers-
agronomists, buyers of berries, experts of rural advisory services, district agriculture departs,
processing companies’ owners or supply chain managers, berries buyers/traders who are
linked with berries production/value chain or farmers. The discussion points of the KIIs
focused on information related to select variables of the survey questionnaires, and on the
experiences of the stakeholders regarding what was needed to berries grower’s men and
women farmers for better VC. The FGDs at the Oblast/Rion levels used a checklist and
guideline as points of departure for discussion with male and female farmers. In addition, a
case study was conducted to explore the concept of empowerment as it relates to the specific
interventions which contributed to gender equal outcomes.
Management issues taken care before going to different areas for conduction of FGD
We have Selected an indoor room/premises with heating arrangement for conduction of
FGD40
.
- For participants (one for male, another for female) two washrooms were arranged
around, and hot tea/coffee/snakes/Stationary
- pen and pencils/markers/flipcharts/forms to fill out the survey attendance sheet
etc. To save time, the discussion outcome (top line findings) were put on a table.
Those tables were drawn beforehand on bigger flip-charts ready to be filled up in
front of them on board.
- While filling out the survey questionnaire, women and men separately kept
separately filled up, so that they did not feel influenced by each other on each
other’s answers.
40
As per observations of ‘gender team’ on the pre-test event in Jalalabad on Saturday 16 Jan 2016

38
- Given more time to listen to farmers and get data as much as possible. Used more
open-ended questions while facilitating. Closed-end questions avoided.
- Language barrier overcome: Consultant facilitated discussion in Russian. If
needed, used facilitation into Kyrgyz through interpreter!
“Gender analysis of the value chain of soft fruits (Strawberry and Raspberry)” theme was
unanimously selected by the experts in a participatory meeting headed by Chief of Party
attended by Dy. COP, gender team, M&E Director and consultant of the Agro Horizon
project.41
Based on the Eight following criteria42 Strawberry and Raspberry subsectors were selected as
these fruits have excellent:
 Solid demand of fresh and processed fruits at home and abroad
 Income Potential for women growers
 Large growth potential for exports of fresh fruit, frozen retail packs, and value-added
products such as dried berries, culinary ingredients (powders, extracts, etc.),
concentrates and purees, organic products, and other retail products
 Importance to Food Security and Nutrition for Agro Horizon project
 Impact on Women: Gender and Youth participation.
 Reach: Number and distribution of potential beneficiaries
 Relevance: Appropriate for both household and commercial farms; relative current
importance in local agriculture.
 Good profitability, Potential for intensification/expansion
 Potential for Agro Horizon project success
Other decisions taken on amendment of SOW:
 As there was any need to hire ‘service provider’ to accomplish the assignment and to
conduct a surveys, it was decided that ‘the training of the service providers as a part of
the SOW should be dropped. It also seemed unrealistic to organize training in the use
of the gender value chain analysis tool to Agro Horizon staff and the local service
provider within such a short time for all the SPs all over KG.
 It was also decided to cover all 4 oblasts of the Agro Horizon project for conduction of
FGDs and KIIs
TARGET GROUPS
It can be applied in mixed groups (men and women), preferably ‘women headed households’
and couples (marriage) in rural programs, farm family (poor, small, medium farmers, etc.)
organizations of producers of soft fruits or entrepreneurs.
FDGs were conducted in all oblasts relevant for Agro Horizon. In each oblast at least one FGD
for both varieties together will be conducted for men and women separately. Participants are
41
Meeting held on 11 January 2016 in Bishkek Agro Horizon Project office
42
Kyrgyzstan Agro-Horizon VC analysis-fanal-15 Dec 2014 page 6-8

39
those who have already grown soft fruits before with or without support of Agro Horizon or
other training providers.
Oblast Rayon FGD Soft fruit variety
Jalalabad Chatkal/Alabuka 1 men / 1 women group Straw- / Raspberry
Naryn Naryn 1 men / 1 women group Straw- / Raspberry
Osh Kara-Suu 1 men / 1 women group Straw- / Raspberry
Batken Leilek 1 men / 1 women group Straw- / Raspberry
Totally 13 KIIs were complemented the 8 FGDs. KIIs were held in each oblast with following
the following interviewees:
 Representative of processing company
 Representative of Rural Advisory or Extension Service (Agronomist)
 Representative of the District Agriculture Department
 Representative of market buyers (bazaar)
Step 1 Guiding questions on roles of men and women
1. While producing soft fruits like Strawberry and Raspberries what role do men and women play
during planting/caring for plants/ controlling diseases/pests/ better production/ marketing?
2. Which daily activities are undertaken by women and men at each level or function of the
chain?
3. How much time do they invest into raspberry and strawberry production?
4. What kind of activities is conducted by boys and girls?
Matrixes was used to present the outcomes of the discussions.
Activities Men women Mixed
HH
boys43 girls44 Comment
Selection of variety
Buy runners (or seeds)
Land preparation
Fertilizing (organic or
chemical)
Acquiring agro inputs
(fertilizer, insecticides etc.)
Planting runners
Caring of plants
-mulching
-weeding
-trimming
Fetching water/irrigating
43
Workforce in family/household
44
Workforce in family/households

40
Decides about method of
fertilizing and pest +disease
control
Applying pest control
Applying disease control
Harvesting
Sorting
Packaging
Storing
Other value addition for
marketing
Which?
Home processing for home consumption or
market?
Marketing / selling
Price negotiation or
bargaining
Control sales proceeds
Decision over income for
spending
Others (please specify), if any
Step 2 guiding questions for the debate on access to and control over resources
1. Do women possess land, house or other resources? Are these legalized in their names/ can
they sell them?
2. Can women decide which soft fruits to grow?
3. Which working tools do men and women possess (men and women) for cultivating,
harvesting, processing, transporting and other activities?
4. Which other agro inputs (seeds, fertilizers [organic and inorganic), pest and disease control,
etc. women have access to? How does this differ to men? From which source do women /
men get agro inputs (provider)? How sustainable is this input supply?
5. Which skills and access to technology/training have men and women?
6. Do man and women have access to credit; are there differences in amount or credit
conditions? Do you use credit or loans for producing berries? For what? In which months
usually? Where do you get the money from? Do you have difficulties to repay?
7. Where do women get knowledge about agricultural production - berry production - from?
Does that differ for men? What are constraints to access such knowledge?
8. Are women part of a network, farmer groups, associations, unions etc.? What are constraints
to become member of such groups/organizations? Does that differ for men?
9. Do women have easy access to local fresh market or processing companies? Who negotiates,
signs contract, is responsible for delivering the supply?
10. Do the women like to expand the area of cultivation? What are constraints to such expansion,
what she lacks and what support she wants?
11. Do you like to adopt the soft fruit cultivation as “family business”?

41
12. Do you think you are fulfilling partly your family’s ‘nutrition’ from your own growing fruits?
How much of the produce (in %) do you use for own consumption? How much is bought by
neighbors and the immediate community?
Table 2 Access to and control over resources 45
Resources Who own the
resource
Who has
access
How is it
used? Do you
use it for
berries?
Who decides
over its use
Comments
Land
Machinery
(Drip) irrigation
Tunnels
Credit
Savings Where from? How frequent?
Knowledge /
training
Networks /
groups
Which ones? Extent of
participation/membership?
Expansion Wanted?
Transportation
Marketing What channels? To whom?
Where?
Value adding /
processing
Manually? Mechanically?
Sale proceeds /
income
Step 3 guiding questions for reflection on decision making
1. How is the money used/where the money goes that is generated with the sales of products?
How is income redistributed within the family?
2. How is it invested? Who decides mostly about the investment form? In whose name are the
new assets purchased or savings accrued?
3. What kind of control do women have over income and resources that they generate?
4. How do women participate and negotiate in decision-making inside the household?
45
Source: Gender and learning Team, gender and development training center, adapted by Patricia Lindo,
2007

42
Table 3 matrix decision making 46
Decision activity How men participate How women participate
Getting credit
Marketing of berries
Spending income
Saving money
Buying productive assets
Buying household assets
Step 4 guiding questions for existing support
1. Have you already received some support or trainings for berry production?
2. What was useful, what is missing?
3. What was the benefits and impacts of the support/training?
4. What kind of support you need to expand your berries production?
Actor analysis value chain of soft fruits at all selected areas
typology Socio-
economic
characteristics
of the
household
How are
women
involved?
Access to and
control over
resources by
women
Impact on
the lives of
men and
women of
soft fruits
growers
Comments
Female
headed
households
without
male adult
Poor farmer
households
Small
farmers HH
Medium
producers
46
March Candida, 1996, ‘concepts and frameworks for analysis and planning in terms of gender’, OXFAM, UK

43
VC Map
KEY INFORMANTS Interview (KII)
QUESTIONS FOR AGRONOMIST-EXPERTS FROM RURAL ADVISORY SERVICES/EXTENSION
SERVICES/BUYERS OF BERRIES
GENERIC QUESTIONS:
1. In which areas are male / female farmers in your areas growing berries? Are berries mostly grown
in homestead garden or in the field? Who grows which type of berries mostly? What are the
conditions to grow strawberry and raspberry? Where are potential areas to grow berries in your
area?
2. Do you think that the kitchen gardeners of berries growers considered as farmers?
3. Where do women obtain the runners of berries/seeds that they grow in your areas? How does
that differ for men?
Value Chain for Berries Service
Providers
Foreign
Markets
Export Foreign
processors
Wholesale
rs
Retailers
Bazaars/
markets
Processing
plants: 5%
Export
Sales
Processing
Financial
institutions
(FINCA, Bai
Tushum, banks);
Agri-consulting
(TES, RAS);
KyrgyzAgroBioC
entre;
Central
Specialized
Control
Toxicological
Laboratory
Kyrgyz Agro
Chemical Soil
Station
Collectors
Home
processing:
60%
Individual Peasant Farms and households: 99%>175.000
Collection
Production
Input
Land Seedlings Fertilizers Chemicals Labor
VC stages
Irrigation

44
4. Do they use any sort of machinery in growing berries, if so are those different from other usual
agricultural machineries?
5. Do they use specific technologies or innovations in growing berries? If so, which? Are these
different for men and women growers? Are you aware of any technologies or resources that
could help women berries processors?
6. What sorts of fertilizers and pesticides women berries growers/producers use in your areas? Do
men berry growers use different methods and chemicals?
7. How do women farmers typically water their berries crops and how does this differ from men?
Which (new) technologies are used by women, which by men?
8. Who is responsible for selling berries managed by women and how does this differ from the
berries managed by men? How does the marketing process look like (specifically for selling to
fresh market, to processing companies and maybe traders)?
9. How are income/sales proceeds used in households? For what? Who manages the income from
berry production?
10. Which kind of resources (such as money, extension services, knowledge, technologies, etc.) can
women berries growers access? Do they use them? How does this differ for men?
11. What resources do women berries growers use and control? How does this differ between men
and women?
12. How are the relationships between women berries growers/farmers and input suppliers or
service providers? How does this differ for men?
13. How would you assess women’s level of participation in farmer groups, cooperatives or other
farmer organizations? What are their constraints to participate in such?
14. What rural organizations are women typically members of?
15. What are women’s roles in shuttle trading and vending on the street or in bazaars? What types
of berries do women trade and sell? How does this differ for men?
16. What traditional practices in southern Kyrgyzstan influence control over resources in agriculture
and agribusiness?
17. What community, informal, or self-help groups, if any, have high levels of female participation
and/or leadership? What services do these organizations provide?
18. What potential opportunities do you see for women berries growers/ farmers as entrepreneurs?
19. How can we make agricultural value chains more inclusive of women berries producers?
20. Are there things the government has done that have helped you as an informal business owner?
21. What types of potentially high/ higher value processing is currently done manually by women?
Are there processing technologies that the ACDI/VOCA-Agro Horizon project could connect them
with in order to a) reduce time burden; and/or b) increase profitability?
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR DISTRICT AGRI DEPARTMENTS
22. Please tell me more about the roles and responsibilities of the District Agro
Department. What are your responsibilities and tasks in terms of agriculture planning,
production and marketing?
23. Are there any farmers in your district that grow soft fruits, particularly strawberries and
raspberries? Where? How much? How is that beneficial to the farmers and the
communities (income, nutrition, etc.)? What are the difficulties faced by these farmers
in terms of growing soft fruits?

Revised REPORT_Nizam _ 07 March 2016

Revised REPORT_Nizam _ 07 March 2016

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