The debate on climate change has intensified as its impact becomes more visible. In the Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia (EECCA) region, people face significant climate challenges, including increased temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and frequent extreme weather events, affecting agriculture, water availability, and ecosystems. And women play a crucial role in adapting to climate change, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Women in this region play a key role in adapting to change by managing natural resources and promoting inclusive and sustainable development strategies. Their leadership contributes to the efficient use of resources and increased resilience of communities.
However, women often face additional barriers such as social limitations, limited access to education, and economic constraints that hinder their participation.
Though gender equality policies and providing more access to resources can empower women and ultimately strengthen the entire community resilience, which can be of benefit to everyone. In this sense, traditional knowledge, especially in agriculture and environmental practices, plays a vital role in adaptation. In this article we will analyze four best case examples that illustrate how the inclusion of women can help develop climate adaptation practices that could strengthen the communities living in this region.
Traditional Knowledge and Modern Adaptation in Armenia
Gohar Sersisyan is a dedicated and innovative farmer from Armenia who embodies the spirit of innovation and tradition in agriculture practices. She is part of a growing movement of over 1,000 female agripreneurs and farmers empowered to adopt climate-smart farming practices and innovative solutions aimed at boosting productivity and income.
Gohar has lived her entire life in the heart of the Kotayk region, in the small, remote, and mountainous village of Teghenik. Farming for her is more than just a means of survival; it’s a deeply ingrained way of life. Yet, the harsh terrain and unpredictable weather patterns have long made agriculture a formidable challenge in Teghenik. Despite these obstacles, Gohar is known for her innovative spirit, seamlessly blending cutting-edge techniques with the traditional wisdom passed down through generations.
In Teghenik, the strong mountainous sun, unexpected hailstorms, and increasing soil aridity have threatened the crops that have sustained village families for generations. But Gohar was determined to find climate adaptation solutions that would preserve her village’s agricultural heritage while embracing modern advancements.
“Learned agricultural practices were combined with the replacement of cultivated crops with high-value varieties (broccoli, arugula, Armenian cucumber), because these species provided an opportunity to improve the nutritional diversity of the community while reducing the unpredictable risks inherent in single-crop farms. Along with this, the income potential also increased, as wider market opportunities opened up to the farmers,” Gohar explains.
Through her application of new production techniques and technology, Gohar and other female farmers has seen a significant increase in productivity. They have increased their yield from 4-5 to 6-8 tons of potatoes per hectare, or by 25-35 percent. Similarly, winter wheat yields have seen a boost, with farmers achieving up to 4.5-5 tons per hectare compared to the previous average of 3-4 tons per hectare.
“These improvements are largely due to better crop selection, advanced farming techniques, and an increased understanding of climate change impacts. Rotating potatoes with winter wheat helped improve soil fertility and reduce the accumulation of pests and diseases,” says Gohar.
The introduction of climate-resilient potato and winter wheat varieties has enabled women farmers, like Gohar, to diversify and explore new agricultural value chains.
“I have introduced varietal potatoes to the market at differentiated prices by incorporating manual sorting and grading techniques based on size and quality. Additionally, with training in advanced post-harvest methods, farmers can sell low-quality crops earlier, reducing the risk of income loss from crop deterioration. These efforts have helped us adapt to climate changes and achieve a 20-30 percent increase in income,” she states.
Additionally, over 200 women were trained in soil restoration, potato and winter wheat production, water management, and the use of organic fertilizers and natural pesticides. Efficient water use was improved through basins, drip and subsoil irrigation, mulching, setting irrigation schedules, and installing solar-powered pumps in mini pump stations.
This diversification strategy has proven to be an important step in increasing resilience to the challenges posed by climate change and unpredictable weather patterns.
Preserving traditional knowledge in Kyrgyzstan
Zhanara Algozhoeva is a hereditary herbalist and healer in Kyrgyzstan. She was born into a shepherd’s family and spent her entire childhood in the Suusamyr mountain meadows of Chuy province. Since childhood, Zhanara remembers how her grandmother worked with herbs such as kerech (Anjelika/Trifoilum), kokomeren (Thyme), adirashman (Harmala/Graveyard), which she put in cloth bags and dried. At that time, Zhanara did not even think that she would work with medicinal herbs, but she still remembers the smell of these herbs. Her grandmother drank medicinal herbs herself,` mixed them with milk and gave them to children.
Zhanara explains that Kyrgyzstan’s biodiversity is unique in Central Asia due to its rich variety of medicinal herbs. The country’s geography and climate contribute to the fact that many types of herbs with healing properties grow here. High mountain conditions increase the content of biologically active substances. When it is hot during the day, cold at night, plus atmospheric changes – these are stressful conditions for plants, which have a beneficial effect on the amount of active substances in them.
Zhanara shares her experience of collecting medicinal plants, emphasizing the importance of caring for them: the right way of collecting and drying them is of great importance to preserve their effectiveness.
“Each herb requires its own time to be collected – spring, summer or autumn. I go to the mountains for several months to collect these plants, doing it with respect and taking into account the natural cycles. This process requires not only knowledge of herbs, but also a deep understanding of the ecosystem and its conservation. My work is not only about collecting herbs, but also about caring for nature and preserving traditional knowledge passed down from generation to generation,” she said
With the establishment of “Amanat-Omur” Public Fund in 2014, Zhanara took an important step towards preserving traditional knowledge and sustainable use of local natural resources. The Fund’s initiatives aim to educate local women and community members, which not only contributes to the preservation of biodiversity and cultural heritage, but also improves the quality of life of local residents.
The establishment of the first pre-school ethnobotanical garden in in Kyzyl Tuu village of Chuy province was a significant step. An alley of local fruit trees serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving biodiversity and maintaining local agricultural crops. The active participation of the members of “Young Naturalist” environmental club allows schoolchildren not only to gain theoretical knowledge, but also to apply it in practice, developing their environmental awareness. Training in traditional beekeeping, the basics of organic farming, and traditional “shakar samyn”, soap making from local herbs, creates unique opportunities for local residents.
In Naryn region traditional knowledges are also used as the basis for some initiatives. Begayim Murzalieva is a beautiful testament to the deep connection between people and their land. In 2016, she created “Konorbos Muras” Public Association and together with other local leaders and community members, she has been implementing educational projects on protecting local biodiversity and preserving genetic resources, traditional culinary classes and cooking demonstrations and others.
“Fortunately, there are still people in the village who have the skills and knowledge of their ancestors about local traditions, resources and how to use them in a more sustainable and regenerative way. These people still know how to cure or prevent illness with the right decoction or combination of wild herbs, fruits and plants. Or how to read the weather patterns from the stars,” she noted.
Begaiym and her colleagues sought out these people. The fact that most of them are now quite old is another reason why Begayim believes it is important to collect, extract and disseminate this knowledge while it still exists.
In addition to teaching the culinary and cultural uses of wild plants, “Konorbos Muras” also focuses on the respectful use of natural resources and the importance of preserving biodiversity. Many people are unaware that the disappearance of local wild plant species can lead to devastating changes in the local ecosystem. Moreover, in At-Bashy, a delicate alpine environment in this extreme climate region, a small disturbance can have a devastating domino effect on the local ecology.
“Alongside the local residents of Acha-Kaindy village, we are dedicated to safeguarding a small area serving as a habitat for wild currant and sea buckthorn. 13 family farming gardens were established, specifically dedicated to growing blackcurrants and thornless sea buckthorn as alternative solutions to prevent the destruction of them,” she said.
These gardens aim to address food security issues and empower women in mountain communities by building their skills in gardening, processing, and product creation using blackcurrants and sea buckthorn.
From Seed to Success: Soilless cultivation of microgreens in Uzbekistan
Gulzar Toreniyazova is an innovative agricultural engineer, businesswoman and mentor from Uzbekistan’s Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, who is passionate about planting microgreens indoors. She is a specialist at the International Innovation Center for the Aral Sea Basin (IICAS).
The Aral Sea region has been suffering from droughts and harsh climate conditions that negatively affect soil and crops. Gulzar being concerned about the climate issues, tried to find solutions for challenges in growing plants in open ground, such as late frosts, early warming, unseasonal weather conditions, pests, etc. She came up with an idea to grow plants indoors, did research, studied indoor planting methods on the Internet and learned about microgreens.
She immediately realized that this was what she was looking for. Gulzar was not an expert in farming, rather a self-taught enthusiast.
“I was born and raised in the village. Like all village children, I also worked in the field and I have always been able to take care of plants better than others have. Now it is trendy to call a green finger (a light hand – this is what they call a person who literally only needs to stick a simple stick into the ground, and it immediately comes to life and blooms). It appears I have green fingers. I learned all the details about planting seeds online and made a lot of mistakes, since there are a lot of pitfalls that are not discussed on the Internet,” she said.
Microgreens are young nutrient-rich vegetable greens that can be easily grown in small spaces, including people’s homes. They are a valuable source of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Microgreens are grown from the seeds of various plants: spinach, radish, mustard, basil and others. Its peculiarity is that it is harvested at the stage of the first leaves.
The main advantage of growing hydroponic microgreens is that they are free of soil particles. Nutrient mixtures are also easy to dispose of in urban areas where there is no space for compost. When growing microgreens, a minimal amount of natural resources is used. Since the growing period is very short – 10-20 days, microgreens save water up to 90%, grow without soil and do not take up much space. This is one of the most resilient agricultural practices in the face of climate change and environmental crises. Gulzar produces microgreens at large scale in the basement of her house and sells them at a local market and restaurants.
After a huge success in production of microgreens, Gulzar wanted to share her two-year experience and expertise to pass down her knowledge and skills to women with disabilities in Nukus, Karakalpakstan.
“To develop a workshop project, I participated in the Startup competition and received a grant of $24,000 from the Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The aim of my project was not only to receive economic benefits from the sale of products, but mostly to teach local residents how to grow organic food at home for themselves and for sale,” she added.
In May 2024, Gulzar collaborated with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and organized a master class on growing microgreens among women with disabilities. This is ideal for individuals with limited mobility compared to traditional farming, which involves heavy lifting and extensive outdoor work. Moreover, microgreens can be sold at local markets and cafes, providing a potential source of income and a viable home-based business opportunity for the women, contributing to their financial independence, especially given the minimal equipment and resources needed for microgreens cultivation. Besides, growing microgreens indoors protects women from harsh weather, pests, and other factors that affect traditional agriculture, making it a more resilient agricultural practice in the face of climate change and environmental crises.
“Women have not only gained valuable knowledge and experience, but also established useful networks that can help them in their future professional and personal lives,” Gulzar said.
A month later, Gulzar and GGGI delivered shelves and phytolamps to the women’s homes to make sure their newly obtained skills were followed up by action. She held individual mini masterclasses for the women, instructing them on the usage of the equipment.
“I am happy to see the desire of women to eat healthy. When they learned about microgreens, they all showed interest and joy. I feel fulfilled to help them with advice and share my experience. I think we always need to raise awareness of the opportunities that can help any women in society find what they like, as well as adapt to the current situation,” she said.