Kyrgyzstan receives modern mobile lab for pasture monitoring

Kyrgyzstan has received a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory to enhance pasture monitoring, a crucial step for sustainable land management. The equipment, valued at over 6.6 million Kyrgyz soms, was provided under the CS-FOR project, a collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The mobile laboratory is equipped with advanced tools, including a Toyota Hilux service vehicle, a DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK drone, laptops, solar panels, a generator, and a portable power storage system. This technology will enable the Service for Veterinary Development, Livestock, Pastures, and Fodder to conduct rapid and accurate field assessments of pasture conditions.

By utilizing drones and GIS technologies, the service can now promptly identify degraded areas, collect spatial data, and make scientifically grounded decisions for pasture resource management. The initiative also includes a cooperation agreement between FAO and the Service to develop a unified digital system for pasture monitoring and evaluation across Kyrgyzstan.

This support is particularly timely as the UN General Assembly declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. This designation underscores the global significance of pastures in ensuring food security, preserving biodiversity, adapting to climate change, and sequestering carbon through greenhouse gas absorption.