OREANDA-NEWS. October 02, 2012. Over 500 people from 16 villages of Naryn and Issyk-Kul oblasts celebrated the Seventh Annual Apple Festival, hosted by Sh. Beishenaliev Secondary School of Baetov village in Ak-Talaa rayon, reported the press-centre of KICB.   

The Apple Festival was opened by Ak-Talaa region’s Akim Mr. Kulubaev, Country Director of Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan Dr. Robin Currey and Chief Operating Officer of Kompanion Financial Group Mr. Ulanbek Akimkanov.

“The Festival’s organizational quality improves every year along with the growth of local communities’ interest and active participation. It is remarkable that the Festival today is held in a remote location such as Baetov village of Naryn oblast,” said UlanbekAkimkanov, “It had been suggested previously that apples did not grow in the Naryn region. But participants of our Festival today successfully demonstrate to everyone that even in such severe, high-elevation conditions it is still possible to grow delicious apples of various varieties.”

During the round table discussion as a part of the Festival, representatives from Naryn and Issyk-kul communities discussed the challenges of horticulture in the region, exchanged ideas and consulted with experienced agronomists. The day was also filled with songs, dances, and comic sketches, all performed by musicians and students fromAk-Talaa communities, including original compositions about apples. Facilities for trampoline-jumping, chess-playing, and drawing were also provided for all children to enjoy. Various showpiece competitions were held, including the Biggest Apple Competition. Aida Apasova from Konurchok village took the prize with an apple weighing 410 grams. As a tradition, guests of the Festival sampled various foods prepared with apples.

“It was a big honor for us and a happy event for children to have the Festival organized in our village,” said Cholpon, teacher of Sh. Beishenaliev Secondary School, which took the first place in Carving Competition. “Our children waited for this event with huge enthusiasm, carving figures from vegetables and making poster-size paintings. Festivals like this not only help develop horticulture in our country but also stimulate our children’s creativity.”

This year’s Apple Festival was a great success. At the end of the festival, the Apple Festival’s baton was handed to a representative from Kara-Oy village of Issyk-Kul oblast, where the Eighth Annual Apple Festival will be held in 2013.

Reference:
Kompanion is a community development financial institution established by Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan in 2004. Kompanion's mission is to be the leading community development financial institution in Kyrgyzstan.

Registered with the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kompanion is represented in all oblasts and regions of Kyrgyzstan providing services to more than 124 300 customers (August 2012) and is the second largest financial institution in Kyrgyzstan as measured by the number of customers. Kompanion supports the strengthening and growth of communities by offering development products and services to entrepreneurs and individuals.

Mercy Corps is a leading global economic development and aid organization. Kompanion represents the culmination of Mercy Corps’ 16-year work in micro credit and its desire to leave an enduring and sustainable community development financial institution as its legacy to the people of Kyrgyzstan.