Co-operation of Local Communities in Kyrgyzstan for Betterment of Rural Development : Case Study in Issyk-Kul Oblast <Research Note>

Rural development is a concern all over the world, but is of more importance for developing countries as most of the developing countries' population is rural; hence development of rural areas is significant in achieving their national development. It is true for all post-soviet countries in transition including Kyrgyzstan. Sixty five percent of Kyrgyzstan's population lives in rural areas.

Rural development issue had got its importance right after gaining sovereignty. Unlike socialist system of government when rural areas fully depended on the decisions made by the center, under the decentralization after gaining sovereignty from the Soviet Union strategy of Rural Development was changed, firstly, because of the change in government system; and secondly, due to the lack of resources to subsidize all rural development activities. Thus, rural communities' self-initiative attitude was welcomed since then.

This research note presents the case study of current rural development situation in two remote villages of Issyk-Kul oblast in Kyrgyzstan; and states that further participatory rural development with systematic government support and development of farmeroriented strategies is needed.