Pilot agricultural project completed in Balkhash region
The executor of WWF project - the Ecobioproject Public Foundation - signed an agreement with the local authorities and the Ile-Balkhash nature reserve to implement a pilot project.
Twenty Karoy families wished to participate the project. The local authorities allocated 2 hectares of plowed land with the support of equipment provided by the Ile-Balkhash reserve. The Ecobioproject funded by WWF-Russia fenced the area, provided irrigation equipment, purchased planting material commissioned by residents, and conducted training classes for families.
With spring arrival, the local residents planted agricultural crops, and, in September, they got a large harvest and, finally, held a farm fair. The best project participants received certificates and branded WWF T-shirts. Considering that the average family size in Karoy is from 6 to 10 people, about 180 residents were involved in the work.
This agricultural project is a part of the tiger reintroduction program that WWF-Russia implements with the government of Kazakhstan.