FAO Uzbekistan Newsletter 1st semester 2023 – Issue #7

©FAO
The President of Uzbekistan determined the priorities for further cooperation with FAO

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of

Uzbekistan, Visits FAO HQ in Rome

©Press-service of the President

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uz-
bekistan, visited the FAO headquarters as part of his

of Uzbekistan
official visit to Italy and held a meeting with FAO
Director General Qu Dongyu. The two discussed
practical aspects of enhancing cooperation between
Uzbekistan and the FAO, including modernizing the
agricultural complex and ensuring food security. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Qu
Dongyu, FAO Director General, at the FAO Headquarters in Rome

The leader of Uzbekistan noted, with appreciation,

the results of their fruitful interaction in recent years.
The FAO office has been operating successfully in
Uzbekistan over the past few years, tripling the size
of their project portfolio in country -- covering such
areas as land and water use, agriculture, forestry,
ecology, livestock and many others. Interest was
expressed in further expanding the partnership in the
context of increasing global food insecurity. Among
these priorities is the development of a new full-scale
Cooperation Program by 2030.
The Program provides for the implementation of
specific projects and activities in such areas as food
security, fundamental scientific research, agricultural
digitalization, addressing the environmental
challenges of the Aral Sea region and others. The
parties discussed the preparation process for the
upcoming high-level International Conference under
the auspices of FAO in Samarkand.
FAO Director General Qu Dongyu highly appreciated
and supported the structural reforms being carried
out in Uzbekistan aimed at modernizing the
agricultural sector.
 This year, Uzbekistan's experience in the implemen-
tation of various FAO projects was presented at major
international forums such as the UN Forum on For-
ests, held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA,
and the first annual meeting of the Food Systems,

© FAO/LazizkhonTashbekov
Land Use and Restoration program (FOLUR) in São
Paulo, Brazil, among others.

In turn, the capital of Uzbekistan became the venue

Dear Readers!
Welcome to the seventh issue of the FAO Uzbekistan
Newsletter, which covers key events from the first
half of 2023.
One of the most important events was the meeting of
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan with the
Qu Dongyu, FAO Director General, as part of
President’s official visit to Italy in June. During the
meeting, parties discussed practical aspects of en-
hancing cooperation between Uzbekistan and FAO in
such important areas as modernizing the agricultural
complex and ensuring food security.
for three major international events: Salt-affected
Soils: the second meeting of the International
Network on Salt-affected Soils (INSAS), the sixth
plenary meeting of the Subregional Eurasian Soil
Partnership (EASP) and specialized trainings on salt-
affected soil analysis conducted by the Global Soil
Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN).
Significant results have been achieved through FAO
projects covering different areas of agriculture. All
details about these and other news are in the new is-
sue.
We hope you enjoy reading it!
Sherzod Umarov,
Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan

UN Forum on Forests 18th Session

Addresses Aral Sea Region Issues
Representatives from the FAO Country Office in Uz- The FAO supported the participation of a delegation
bekistan participated in the 18th session of United from Uzbekistan at a forum. FAO, the World Bank,
Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) that took place at UNECE, the Canadian Forest Service, and the Forest
the UN headquarters in New York. The UNFF 18 dis- Management Institute of the Czech Republic, in which
cussed the implementation of, and progress on, the the Uzbek delegation chaired a side-event.
UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) 2017-2030. The
meeting reviewed the contributions of member
states, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF)
(of which the FAO chairs), regional and subregional
organizations, as well as the contributions of other
major groups and relevant stakeholders.

At the forum, Ekrem Yazici, the FAO Forestry Officer,

stressed the importance of integrated forest, land
and water resource management in the face of cli-
mate change in the Aral Sea Region. As he noted, wa-
ter availability and quality, afforestation, land resto-
© FAO

ration and forest-based livelihood support are essen-

tial to increase resilience to climate change and other
Ekrem Yazici, the FAO Forestry Officer, speaks at the United Nations
challenges. Forum on Forests in New-York

2
The event was attended by over 100 stakeholders
from UN member states, representing academia, re-
search institutions and NGOs.
©FAO
Uzbek delegation representatives at the United Nations Forum on
Forests in New-York
Participants at the side-event learned about the activ-
ities carried out in Uzbekistan for ensuring environ-
mental protection, highlighted achievements of the
ambitious and ongoing nationwide planting campaign
“Yashil Makon,” and of afforestation works on the
dried Aral Sea bed. Notably, the total surface of pro-
tected natural areas in Uzbekistan has increased by
10% since 2016. Paola Agostini, Director of the World
Bank's Regional Department for Natural Resources,
shared details about a new reforestation project in
Uzbekistan worth USD 142 million.
Uzbekistan Prepares a National Report
on the State of the Environment
To help evaluate the effectiveness of measures taken
to protect the environment as the basis for sustaina-
ble development, an introductory training seminar
was held in Tashkent on 1 February 2023 to develop
a methodology for the National Report on the State
of the Environment in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The
workshop was organized by the Ministry of Ecology,
Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uz-
bekistan with the support of the United Nations Eco-
nomic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United
Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the FAO.
The report will help Uzbekistan to make environmen-
tally sound decisions and to improve environmental
and socio-economic policy, the legal framework,
mechanisms for state regulation of nature manage-
ment and environmental protection. It will also aid
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monitoring compliance with environmental legisla-
tion, developing and implementing targeted environ-
mental programs and scientific and technical devel-
opments aimed at ensuring environmental safety.
“The National State of the Environment report is an
analytical document that contains an assessment of
the environmental situation and an analysis of the
cause-and-effect relationships that cause changes”
said the UNECE Regional Adviser Sarangoo
Radnaaragchaa. She highlighted that the methodol-
ogy of the report will be based on the UNECE Guide-
lines for the preparation of governmental reports on
the state and protection of the environment and that
the UNECE Environmental Performance Review
conducted in 2019 will serve as a valuable basis.
Specialists from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Natural Re-
sources, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry
of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources and
the Ministry of Health presented the current situation
and trends in the field of environmental protection.
The seminar helped to identify key drivers of pressure
on specific components of the environment, as well
as possible responses.
Representatives of the Slovak Agency for Environ-
mental Protection and of the Ministry of Ecology and
Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan
shared experiences and practices of developing coun-
try National Reports.
To date, a draft report has been prepared. The project
team of the “Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration
Impact Program in Uzbekistan” supported develop-
ment of the report.
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
The training seminar on a methodology for the National Report on
the State of the Environment
And again, about Food Security
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
Khurshid Norov, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at the FAO
Uzbekistan Country Office
Due to a number of factors, including population
growth, water scarcity, land degradation, crop and
animal diseases, losses in the agricultural supply
chain, climate change and barriers to agricultural
trade (including due to the pandemic), food security
is one of the current topics on today's agenda of in-
ternational economic relations and politics. Consid-
ering each of these factors that pose a threat to
achieving food security, the following should be
noted:
The world's population is expected to in-
crease by almost 2 billion people over the next 30
years, from the current 8 billion to 9.7 billion in 2050,
increasing food demand by up to 60 percent and in-
creasing global food production by about 70 percent,
which will create additional stress on soil and water
resources.
It is common knowledge that a significant
portion of global water consumption is water used in
food production. On average, 70 percent of fresh wa-
ter is used to irrigate crops and therefore it is very im-
portant to create conditions in which the loss of wa-
ter resources is minimal. Moreover, given the increas-
ing global population, it is clear that water scarcity
poses a real threat to food security, as more food will
have to be grown with limited water resources.
The last 50 years have seen significant in-
creases in food production, many of which have been
linked to management practices that have led to the
degradation of land systems on which food produc-
tion depends. Today, a number of such systems are
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threatened by the gradual erosion of productive po-
tential caused by population growth and unsustaina-
ble agricultural practices.
Making up more than 80 percent of the hu-
man diet, plants play an important role in food secu-
rity - ensuring that we all have access to enough safe
and nutritious food to enable us to lead active,
healthy lives. Plant pests and diseases pose a threat
to food security because they can damage crops, re-
ducing food availability and access and increasing
food costs. As for animal disease, in addition to the
threat to human health, there are threats of a socio-
economic nature due to losses in production vol-
umes, productivity and profitability associated with
diseases and the costs of combating them; disruption
of local markets, international trade and rural econo-
mies due to disease outbreaks and containment
measures such as culling, quarantine and travel bans;
and threats to the livelihoods of vulnerable popula-
tions.
According to the FAO and the United Nations
World Food Program (WFP), food loss occurs primar-
ily early in the food supply chain, during production,
post-harvest and processing, when food intended for
consumption is destroyed, spoiled or otherwise mis-
placed. This can negatively impact food security as it
is often the result of inefficient use of resources, sup-
ply chains and inadequate national infrastructure.
Food loss is a more pressing issue for developing
countries given the weaknesses of their food supply
systems. This limits food security by reducing the
availability of nutritious foods.
Global climate change, with an increase in ex-
treme weather events and increased weather unpre-
dictability, is already affecting agriculture and food
security, reducing productivity and incomes in vulner-
able areas. In turn, increased global food production
has meant that the global food system accounts for
about a third of greenhouse gas emissions, second
only to the energy sector; it is the number one source
of methane and loss of biodiversity.
Many countries view increased participation
in global trade as an important element of their na-
tional food security strategy, with imports making up
an important part of the food supply for most coun-
tries in the world and exports being a source of in-
come for many agricultural producers, especially the
country's family farms. Global trade impacts all four
dimensions of food security, namely availability, ac-
cessibility, consumption and stability. Therefore,
trade barriers, including protectionist measures,
sanctions and other foreign trade bans, often lead to
a breakdown in the supply chain of agricultural goods
with a subsequent deterioration in the food security
situation in certain countries.
These listed challenges affect the state and dynamics
of food security in countries, thereby forcing them to
respond to them by taking appropriate unilateral and
collective measures. Recently, attempts by the world
community, including international organizations and
donors, to improve the food security situation in de-
veloping countries have been neutralized by pro-
cesses associated with climate change, the COVID-19
pandemic and military conflicts in various regions of
the world. For example, according to data from five
specialized UN organizations (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF,
WFP and WHO), at the end of 2021, there were from
702 to 828 million hungry people in the world (8.9
and 10.5 percent of the world population, respec-
tively), approximately 92 percent of whom live in de-
veloping countries.
The situation with food security is also aggravated by
the fact that often in many developing countries the
concept of food security comes down to a quantita-
tive increase in food supplies through their produc-
tion and import. This simplistic approach to defining
the concept of food security has the consequence of
missing the opportunity to integrate its three interre-
lated dimensions, including economic, social and en-
vironmental aspects. Awareness of this interaction
could contribute to the development of comprehen-
sive national strategies for achieving sustainable food
systems.
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© FAO/LazizkhonTashbekov
Chorsu Market in Tashkent
In this rapidly changing world, there are two key areas
on the agenda for all global negotiation processes
that directly affect the food security situation in coun-
tries and regions. These are the issues of global cli-
mate change, in particular the reduction of green-
house gas emissions, as well as freedom of trade in
food and agricultural fertilizers.
Regardless of the degree and severity of disagree-
ments between countries and the sanctions applied
between them, these issues must be apolitical and re-
solved in the name of all humanity and its future. In
other words, policymakers and negotiators must put
aside their differences when it comes to mitigating
climate change and ensuring free trade in food. The
apolitical nature of climate change and international
food trade, enshrined in relevant UN regulations and
documents, can help countries address emerging
food security issues in a timely and effective manner.
I would like to hope that these issues will also be re-
flected in the agenda of the upcoming international
conference on food security under the auspices of the
FAO on September 7–8 of this year in Samarkand,
which should serve as an effective platform for ex-
changing views on food security issues and attracting
the attention of the public and the expert community
to issues of sustainable food systems.
Khurshid Norov
Monitoring and evaluation specialist
at FAO Uzbekistan Country Office
Uzbekistan Takes a Leading Role in
Forging International Alliances
to Combat Soil Salinization
Between 22 and 26 May, the capital of Uzbekistan,
Tashkent, served as a meeting point for experts and
soil scientists from all over the world. Notably, Tash-
kent became the epicenter of three major interna-
tional events on salt-affected soils: the Second Meet-
ing of the International Network on Salt-affected Soils
(INSAS), the Sixth Plenary Meeting of the Subregional
Eurasian Soil Partnership (EASP) and specialized train-
ings on salt-affected soil analysis conducted by the
Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN). About
150 participants came together, including represent-
atives from several countries including Australia,
Armenia, Bangladesh, China, France, Georgia, the
Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Malaysia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Pakistan,
Senegal, Spain, Turkmenistan, the United Republic of
Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
Participants of the 2nd INSAS meeting in Tashkent
The events were organized by the FAO Global Soil
Partnership (GSP), the Subregional Eurasian Soil Part-
nership (EASP) and the FAO in Uzbekistan in coopera-
tion with the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan
and several other partners. Otabek Akbarov, Uzbeki-
stan's Permanent Representative to the FAO played
an instrumental role in organizing these important
events.
As part of this collaboration, a new project “Support
for the Promotion of Sustainable Soil Management in
the Framework of the FAO Global Soil Partnership -
Phase III” was signed. Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO
Representative noted that the signing marked a sig-
nificant achievement. The project aims to further
strengthen national, regional, and global capacities in
implementing sustainable soil management prac-
tices.”
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© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
Speakers at the opening ceremony of the 2 nd INSAS meeting in
Tashkent
The one-week event centered on soil salinization was
also an occasion for hosting the second meeting of
the INSAS network. The purpose of the meeting was
to review the progress made over the past two years
(2021–2022), discuss and identify the priorities, de-
velop the work plan for 2023–2024, strengthen coop-
eration between members, and improve capacities of
members through trainings programs. The INSAS
training sessions included modules on modelling so-
lute transport in salt-affected soils, stakeholder iden-
tification and impact for sustainable management of
salt-affected lands, and mapping soil salinity with
electromagnetic induction at the farm scale.
“It is very important to develop all recommendations,
including scientific and technical information in a way
that is accessible to farmers. As the end-users facing
everyday challenges, farmers must be able to under-
stand and implement these recommendations effec-
tively. When formulating regulations on the rational
use of water and soil conservation, decision and pol-
icy makers should also consider the potential environ-
mental impact. This comprehensive approach is es-
sential for achieving sustainable development,” said
Jorge Batlle-Sales, Chair of INSAS.
The GLOSOLAN training sessions took place at the
Tuproqsifattahlil enterprise, which is part of Uzbeki-
stan’s Ministry of Agriculture. Laboratory trainings
were conducted by international specialists and IN-
SAS experts. Participants learned how to measure soil
salinity, pH, and boron in salt-affected soils. They also
learned more about management of soil laboratories
including prevailing international standards in quality
control and quality assurance.
“During the training sessions, we demonstrated the
benefits of newly standardized procedures for as-
sessing soil salinity, which have been harmonized at
the international level under the framework of
GLOSOLAN,” stated Giorgi Ghambashidze, a member
of the GLOSOLAN technical committee. “These meth-
ods are designed to be applicable in any region world-
wide where soil salinity is present. The results of
these procedures will serve as the basis for the devel-
opment of recommendations to improve soil fertility
and combat land degradation.”
Aral Sea museum in Muynak, as well as a trip along
the former coast of the Aral Sea.
During the excursion, foreign and national experts
visited the test plot of SATREPS (Science and Technol-
ogy Research Partnership for Sustainable Develop-
ment) where salt-tolerant plants – halophytes – pre-
dominate. Experts discussed the benefits of growing
multi-purpose halophytes and salt-tolerant glyco-
phytes (plants that are sensitive to salt and cannot
tolerate salt to the same level as halophytes) in a
mixed farming agriculture system to mitigate soil sal-
inization and improve economic utility of salt-af-

© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
fected agricultural lands. The tour participants were
introduced to the work in this field carried out at the
Karabuga demonstration site of the Amudarya Delta.
In addition, the visit included training in land mapping
using the Electromagnetic Induction Instrument EM-
GLOSOLAN experts conduct trainings in Tashkent 38 for measuring soil salinity.

The Sixth Subregional Eurasian Soil Partnership

(EASP) plenary meeting was held alongside the week-
long event in Tashkent. Representatives from 12 Eur-
asian countries discussed barriers and obstacles to

© FAO/Khamroz Nurmukhammedov
the introduction of sustainable soil management
practices in the region and agreed on measures to
strengthen regional collaboration and knowledge
sharing and overcome the problems identified. The
commitments of the Eurasian Soil Partnership are en-
compassed in the unanimously endorsed Tashkent
Communique. A new work plan for the EASP was dis-
cussed and agreed upon, and the partnership’s gov-
ernance was renewed with the election of the EASP
Chair and Vice-Chair. The field visit to the Aral Sea

On the sidelines of the meeting, a side event was or-
ganized by the regional project “Integrated Natural
Resources Management in Drought-prone and Salt-
affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Cen-
tral Asia and Türkiye” (CACILM-2), which is being im-
plemented in Uzbekistan and funded by the Global
Environment Facility (GEF). This side event focused on
addressing soil salinization in arable areas of Central
Asia. Experts discussed the causes of salinization, the
socio-economic consequences of soil degradation,
shared best practices, and examined ways of
strengthening regional cooperation in this area.
These events are an important milestone in the de-
velopment and strengthening of international coop-
eration to combat soil salinization and sodification
and ensure soil health at the global level. This en-
deavor is key to enhancing the sustainability of agri-
cultural and food systems for better production, bet-
ter nutrition, a better environment, and a better life,
leaving no one behind.

The week concluded with a field visit to the Aral Sea,

including a visit to the reforestation plot of the Inter-
national Innovation Center for the Aral Sea basin, the

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Sixth Meeting of the Ministers
of Agriculture of Central Asia
On 15 February 2023, for the sixth time, ministers
from Central Asian countries gathered virtually to
share experiences on current agricultural issues. The
meeting, facilitated by the FAO and supported by the
Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, provided a plat-
form for representatives of the five countries to dis-
cuss how agricultural finances serve a sustainable in-
crease in production.
©FAO
Participants of the online meeting
The vast landscapes of Central Asia with their various
climatic and soil conditions offer great potential for
agricultural production. Yet, the availability of re-
sources is insufficient, and the expansion of agricul-
tural productivity remained relatively slow since the
1990s. To increase efficiency and sustainability and
modernize the sector, further investments are re-
quired from farmers themselves, as well as from the
state.
“If done in a sustainable manner, faster growth in ag-
ricultural productivity can lead to improved food and
nutrition security in Central Asia,” said Vladimir
Rakhmanin, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Re-
gional Representative for Europe and Central Asia.
The agriculture sector not only produces food but
provides employment for a significant portion of the
population in almost all five Central Asian countries;
hence, the development of the sector is key in Ka-
zakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan.
“The sustainable functioning and development of ag-
riculture requires significant financial investments
both from internal and external sources of the
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country,” said the Minister of Agriculture of Uzbeki-
stan, Aziz Voitov. - Without them, it is impossible to
introduce expensive modern technologies and inno-
vative methods that increase productivity and save
resources. In addition, it is important to simultane-
ously develop social and economic infrastructure in
rural areas and invest significant resources in increas-
ing the human potential and competencies of farm-
ers.”
Achieving faster agricultural growth sustainably re-
quires farmers to invest in new technologies, includ-
ing improved inputs (seeds, plants, and fertilizers),
small-scale on-farm works and equipment, as well as
breeding stock. To this end, ministers discussed inno-
vative financing schemes to facilitate such develop-
ment that, at the same time, are environmentally sus-
tainable enhancing biodiversity, soil fertility and effi-
ciency of water use.
Meeting participants also shared proven approaches
and promising ideas on how to allocate public funds
in a targeted way to ensure maximum impact in spur-
ring agricultural growth. These include infrastructural
investments (roads, irrigation system), promoting ag-
ricultural research and education, and better natural
resource management.
Beyond these, changes in the tax schemes, direct and
indirect subsidies, tariffs, and import quotas can also
influence the development of the agriculture sector.
As a starting point, the current system of governmen-
tal expenditures on agricultural growth promotion
should be screened and better understood.
© FAO/Lazizkhon Tashbekov
Apple orchard in Samarkand region, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan Delegation takes part in the
First Annual FOLUR Meeting in Brazil
The Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR)
Impact Program is based on the growing recognition
that food production systems and land use must im-
prove for the health of people, the planet and econo-
mies. With financing of $345 million from the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) and expected additional
co-financing of over $2.7 billion, FOLUR promotes
sustainable integrated landscapes and efficient food
value chains at scale.
© FAO/Oydin Nurullayeva
Uzbek Delegation Members at the FOLUR Annual Meeting in
Sao Paulo, Brazil
FOLUR seeks to transform global food and land use
systems, targeting large production landscapes for
eight commodities: cocoa, corn, coffee, livestock,
palm oil, rice, soy, and wheat. Structured with a
Global Platform and 27 country projects – FOLUR
aims to transform the global food and land use sys-
tems through projects that restore degraded land-
scapes and intensify sustainable land management
practices. Since 2022, FAO Uzbekistan’s Country
Office in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology,
Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the
Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Agricul-
ture has implemented FOLUR in Uzbekistan, funded
by GEF. The project objective is to scale up best prac-
tices and innovations for sustainable and inclusive
wheat-based production landscapes and value
chains.
On 17-20 April 2023, the first annual FOLUR meeting
took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The annual meeting
was attended by the Uzbek delegation consisting of
relevant ministry representatives and members of
the FOLUR project team in Uzbekistan. During the
meeting, Aziz Nurbekov shared an overview of the
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progress, challenges and opportunities of the project
implementation in Uzbekistan.
The FOLUR annual meeting was the first in-person
meeting for members of the Impact Program and
brought together FOLUR members for relationship-
building, knowledge exchange and training, showcas-
ing lessons and accelerating impact. The meeting en-
abled participants to learn more about the country
projects’ goals and challenges and share how the
Global Platform and partners can accelerate country-
level implementation.
The Conference in Jizzakh Focuses on
Rain-fed Farming Development
A scientific and practical conference was held in
Jizzakh on the topic of “The Importance of Rain-fed
Farming: Scientific Foundations and Innovative Agri-
cultural Technologies for its Development,” dedi-
cated to the 110th anniversary of the Scientific Re-
search Institute of Rain-fed Farming under the Minis-
try of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The
event was organized in collaboration with the FAO,
the International Strategic Centre for Agri-Food De-
velopment (ISCAD) and the International Center for
Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
The Scientific and Practical Conference in Jizzakh
Professor Aziz Nurbekov presented a report titled,
“The practical Importance of Soil Protection and Re-
source-saving Technologies in Agriculture in the Arid
Regions of Uzbekistan.” In addition, professors from
China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Spain, and
the UK, as well as domestic specialists, shared their
experience on the development of rain-fed farming,
wheat cultivation and resource management. At the
end of the conference, participants got acquainted
with the work being carried out on the experimental
plots of the Research Institute of Rainfed Agriculture
in Jizzakh.
Uzbekistan’s Experience has been
presented at the FTPP Regional
Workshop in Baku
The Uzbek delegation, formed from representatives
of their relevant ministries and departments, as well
as of the FAO Country Office in Uzbekistan, took part
in a regional workshop in Baku, Azerbaijan which fo-
cused on the results and successes of recently imple-
mented projects of the FAO-Turkey Partnership Pro-
grams. The workshop participants consisted of high-
level representatives of institutions in the countries
of the subregion involved in the projects.
© FAO
Regional Workshop on the FAO-Turkey Partnership Programs
Uzbekistan is involved in eight regional projects
within the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes.
Speaking at the regional workshop, Ramin Gasanov,
Director of the Department of Monitoring IFI’s and
Grant Projects of the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbek-
istan, noted that, “We very much appreciate the on-
going FTPP projects that enhance food security and
decrease rural poverty and vulnerability. Uzbekistan
has excellent political and economic bilateral rela-
tions with all the beneficiaries of the FTPP. We recog-
nize FTPP as an excellent platform to share experi-
ence with each other, organizing capacity building op-
portunities, data and technology exchange”.
The workshop included various panel discussions on
good practices, highlighting project successes with a
focus on gender and rural development as well as on
the future of the FTPP.
During the panel session, Sherzod Umarov, Assistant
FAO Representative in Uzbekistan, shared experi-
ences in the successful implementation of the FTPP
projects in Uzbekistan and took part in discussions on
the relationship between the FAO’s ‘Four Betters’
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concept and innovations in production, nutrition, en-
vironment, and life.
“All the FTPP projects are aligned with the
FAO-Uzbekistan Country Programming Framework
2021-2025 and the country’s national priorities ad-
dressed in the respective sub-sectors to achieve sus-
tainable agriculture development and food security.
In this regard, the FAO Country Office in Uzbekistan is
doing its best to contribute to this dynamic collabora-
tive process by assisting in setting national priorities
and ensuring a well-aligned implementation of the
FTPP strategies together with national partners and
other stakeholders,” said Sherzod Umarov.
The last panel was dedicated to the communication
and visibility of activities by the FTPP, during which a
presentation was made on the activities carried out in
Uzbekistan to raise public awareness about the
achievements of the FAO-Turkey Partnership Pro-
grams.
All participants of the regional workshop agreed that
the resulting regional collaboration and synergies en-
able the FTPP to function as a powerful support
mechanism for achieving the SDGs, in particular No
Poverty and Zero Hunger.
© F AO
Panel Session on the Communication and Visibility Activities of the
FTPP
For reference: The FAO–Türkiye Partnership Pro-
grammes have had a transformative impact on agri-
culture notably in beneficiary countries including
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Tur-
key, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Currently, the
FTPP consists of two modules: the FAO–Türkiye Part-
nership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP II)
and the FAO–Türkiye Forestry Partnership Pro-
gramme (FTFP). FTPP II and FTFP together comprise
20 projects covering different areas of agriculture.
FAO Promotes Green Production of have great potential for sustainable and inclusive
Sweet Cherries in Uzbekistan growth. Every year, the country produces up to 180
thousand tons of product. Agro-ecological conditions
On March 13, 2023, an inception workshop was held enable smallholders across the country to grow sweet
in Tashkent on the FAO project “Innovative Ap- cherries with minimal use of chemicals. In addition,
proaches for Better Plant Production” as part of the producing sweet cherries enhances the use of diver-
implementation of the FAO Global Action on Green sified and sustainable farming systems, including ag-
Development of Special Agricultural Products (SAPs): roforestry and silvopastoralism.
One Country One Priority Product (OCOP), which was
launched by the FAO in September 2021. A milestone was passed in the OCOP when the FAO
regional launch event and workshop for implementa-
tion of the OCOP in Europe and Central Asia was held
in Tashkent, Uzbekistan during 2-3 May, 2023. The
event was hosted by the FAO in cooperation with the
national Ministry of Agriculture. Participants included
OCOP national focal points from governments and
FAO country offices in Albania, Armenia, Georgia,
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva

Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, Türkiye and

Uzbekistan. They came together with agrifood value
chain specialists, leading sweet cherry experts from
China, and a wide range of stakeholders from devel-
opment partners, research organizations, farmers as-
International experts visiting cherry orchard in the Tashkent region sociations and the private sector in Uzbekistan.
The SAPs, covering all kinds of agricultural products,
are locally known, available, or underutilized and
have the potential to be promoted in national, re-
gional and international markets. OCOP supports the
development of sustainable value chains of plant and
animal products, i.e., green production, green stor-
age, green processing and green marketing.

© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
In November of 2022, the FAO launched OCOP coun-
try projects at the global level, identifying the first
round of demonstration project countries that will
lead the implementation of the initiative at the coun- Participants of the Regional Launch Event Visited a Traditional Ba-
try level. These five OCOP demonstration countries zaar in the Tashkent Region

will share lessons learned, innovations and technolo-

The agenda or the regional launch event included a
gies as they develop their Specialty Agricultural Prod-
visit to sweet cherry orchards and to a traditional
ucts. Among them is Uzbekistan, representing the Eu-
market, enabling participants to learn more about the
rope and Central Asia region, which will promote
sweet cherry production process, assess the potential
sweet cherries.
of enterprises, communicate with producers and dis-
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of cuss further expansion of market opportunities.
Uzbekistan strongly supported the implementation of
The regional workshop provided good platform for
OCOP in Uzbekistan, identifying further steps to pro-
participants to consolidate joint efforts to support all
mote green technologies to support of the sustaina-
potential OCOP participating countries and
ble development of the cherry value chain. In this re-
contribute to the successful implementation of the in-
gard, the FAO implemented the “Innovative Ap-
itiative in the region.
proaches for Better Plant Production” project in Uz-
bekistan. As noted at the workshop, sweet cherries

| 11 |
FAO and EBRD Support Meat and Dairy
Industry Development in Uzbekistan
A round table was held in Tashkent to discuss chal-
lenges and opportunities for the further development
of the meat and dairy industries. It brought together
representatives from major agricultural processors
and producers to learn what solutions exist to make
their businesses more resilient to various shocks. The
event was attended by 30 companies, occupying 25
percent of the dairy product sales market and more

© FAO
than 60 percent of the meat market. The round table
was held as part of a joint project between the FAO
Installation of Greenhouses for Beneficiaries of the CACILM-2 Pro-
and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Devel- ject in the Kamashi District of the Kashkadarya Region
opment (EBRD), in collaboration with the Food Indus-
try Association of Uzbekistan. The project was aimed Rural People of Uzbekistan Receive
at supporting agribusiness in the region's meat and
dairy industries during a period of numerous shocks
Equipment for Greenhouse Businesses
that began with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The next batch of greenhouses were handed over to
beneficiaries in January 2023, within the framework
Bakhodir Umirshaykhov, Chairman of the Food Indus-
of the regional project of the FAO and the Global En-
try Association of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Umarov, As-
vironment Facility (GEF) “Integrated Natural Re-
sistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan and Azamat
source Management in Drought- and Salinity-prone
Ibraimov, EBRD Senior Banker, delivered welcoming
Agricultural Landscapes of Central Asia and Turkey”
remarks. During the event, reports were presented by
(CACILM-2). 17 greenhouses with an area of 100
leading foreign experts from the FAO Investment
square meters were received by households in the
Center: Inna Punda, project manager and economist,
Bukhara district of the Bukhara region and the
Oleksandr Sikachina, agricultural market analyst,
Kamashi district of the Kashkadarya region. Green-
Vitaly Bashinsky, veterinarian and biosafety specialist
houses were installed on the personal plots of the
and Evgeniy Shatokhin, livestock specialist.
new owners.
The round table discussed global industry challenges,
“We hope that these greenhouses will help increase
such as increasing outbreaks of animal and plant dis-
household incomes. We visited all the beneficiaries
eases, climate change and rapidly changing consumer
and gave them recommendations regarding sowing
consciousness. The availability of market analytics
vegetable crops. Thanks to the construction of these
was noted as a driver for effective market develop-
greenhouses, many households will be provided with
ment. During the round table, much attention was
income-generating employment,” said CACILM-2 na-
paid to the issues of ensuring biological safety and
tional project manager Muhammadjon Kosimov.
combating the negative and long-term impact of
traces of antibiotics in livestock products. Roundtable In addition, one greenhouse was transferred to the
participants expressed concern that the pandemic Kagan State Forestry (Bukhara region) and two more
could repeat itself, but with the participation of other, greenhouses to secondary schools located in the Bu-
more aggressive pathogens and, accordingly, with khara region as part of the joint program “Zamin Eco-
more severe consequences. Education”, implemented by the Zamin International
Public Foundation, the FAO and other national part-
The event participants agreed that in order to provide
ners for the purpose of environmental education of
food to the growing population of the Republic, it is
children. These greenhouses provide classes for
necessary to work on sustainable intensification, con-
schoolchildren on the rational use of land. The chil-
servation of biodiversity, and rational use of water,
dren learn to plant and care for crops and generally
land and energy resources.
treat nature with care.

| 12 |
International Dialogue on Maintaining a nical Adviser of the Sustainable Forest and Range-
lands Management in the Dryland Ecosystems of Uz-
Neutral Balance of Land Degradation in bekistan project.
Uzbekistan
During the seminar, a report was also given on the
technologies of growing crops in the saline soils of Uz-
bekistan within the framework of another FAO pro-
ject, which is also funded by the GEF – "Integrated
Management of Natural Resources in Drought-prone
and Saline Agricultural Landscapes of Central Asia and
Turkey". In addition, presentations were made on the

© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
state of the soils of Uzbekistan, state strategies for
the rational land use, restoration and increasing of
productivity of degraded soils.

The workshop can be considered as the first step to-

wards integration of international standards for mon-
itoring of land degradation neutrality into existing na-
Nariman Nishanov, Chief Technical Advisor of the FAO project, tional land use monitoring systems.
Speaks at the Conference

The GEF-funded FAO project " Sustainable Forest and

The FAO organized a workshop in Tashkent on "The
Rangelands Management in the Dryland Ecosystems
Benefits of Integrated Land Management: the Role of
of Uzbekistan " is designed to introduce innovative
Indicators of Land Degradation Neutrality and their
methods of land and forest resources management to
Driving Forces" within the framework of the FAO pro-
increase productivity and restore degraded lands,
ject "Sustainable Forest and Rangelands Manage-
which will improve national indicators of land degra-
ment in the Dryland Ecosystems of Uzbekistan",
dation, as well as ensure the sustainability of the use
which is funded by the Global Environment Facility
of agricultural land and forest ecosystems in the
(GEF).
country.
The workshop was included in the program of the in-
ternational conference entitled "Integrated Manage-
ment and Reclamation of Degraded Soils in Ensuring
Food Safety: New Approaches and Innovative Solu-
tions", which was held in Tashkent from April 19 to

© FAO/Nariman Nishanov
22, 2023. The event was organized by the National
University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek
in cooperation with the FAO on the occasion of Earth
Day and the 105th anniversary of the University.

Reports from domestic and foreign scientists, profes-

sors, experts from international organizations were
presented at the workshop. The factors of land deg-
radation in Uzbekistan, including national and global
indicators of land degradation, were considered.
"The international approach involves monitoring the
land degradation neutrality by three main indicators:
the dynamics of land cover, the change in land
productivity and the dynamics of the soil organic car-
bon. In my presentation, I spoke in detail about the
role of each indicator, as well as their drivers – soil
erosion and salinity, the process of carbon sequestra-
tion in the soil," said Nariman Nishanov, Chief Tech-
Soil Erosion. Nurata district of the Navoi Region
The agenda of the International Conference included
field visits to the Namangan, Samarkand and Fer-
ghana regions to study soils and become familiar with
the applied agricultural technologies in these regions.
More than 100 people took part in the hybrid format
of the conference, including representatives of Bela-
rus, India, Mexico, Moldova, the UAE, Russia, the USA
and Japan.

| 13 |
FAO Supports the Use
of Biopesticides against Locusts
in Central Asia and Caucasus
©FAO
Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan, de-
livering a speech on the event
More than twenty years ago, the FAO started to use
less hazardous control methods to control locusts.
FAO promotes, in particular, the use of biopesticides
that affect locusts and grasshoppers only and has no
negative impact on human health and the environ-
ment.
In this context, on 25-29 April 2023, a demonstra-
tion/trial on biopesticides was organized in Jizzakh,
Uzbekistan, by the FAO in close liaison with the
Agency for Quarantine and Plant Protection under
the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan. The event
was covered by the FAO “Programme to Improve Na-
tional and Regional Locust Management in Caucasus
and Central Asia” with support of the projects funded
by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) and the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID).
This major event was aimed at introducing biopesti-
cides to Central Asian countries, with the overall ob-
jective to reduce the use of chemical pesticides
against locusts, in a region where an average of 4.2
million hectares are treated annually. The envisaged
demonstration/trial in Jizzakh involved all Central
Asian countries as well as the Russian Federation. In-
cluding FAO experts, a total of 33 experts took part in
the activities.
As was noted by the experts, a chemical pesticide is a
poison by definition. Even if used in an appropriate
way, there is a risk to human health and the environ-
ment. Even if pesticides occasionally affect human
| 14 |
health, they usually have a negative impact on the en-
vironment, even if minimal, because they indiscrimi-
nately kill other insects that are essential to the eco-
systems. Pesticides can also pollute soil, vegetation,
air and water. That is why biopesticides have a key
role to play in safeguarding human health and the en-
vironment.
The five-day demonstration consisted of treatments
against Moroccan locusts (DMA), with two biopesti-
cides based on Fungi Metarhizium Acridum and Beau-
veria Bassiana. The demonstration included a presen-
tation on the use of biopesticides in locust control,
field application of the two above-mentioned bi-
opesticides, a mortality assessment and an assess-
ment of the impact on non-target organisms.
Since biopesticides are relatively slow-acting prod-
ucts, the treatments were conducted during the
demonstration itself but also about 8-10 days before,
in order to show efficiency and mortality to partici-
pants in addition to absence of impact on non-target
organisms. The demonstration trial was completed by
post-application environmental monitoring to reveal
the impact on non-target organisms, in particular ar-
thropods.
©FAO
FAO International Experts on a Field Visit in the Jizzakh Region
The five-day event in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan concluded
with a round table presentation of lessons learned
and recommendations. A similar trial demonstration
is planned to be held in the Caucasus in June 2023.
Results of the two demonstrations/trials will then be
reviewed together with all Caucasus and Central
Asian countries, during the annual technical work-
shop scheduled during the autumn under the FAO Lo-
cust Programme.а
Trainings for Students of the Educational
Complex-nursery Hosildor Zamin
Specialists from the FAO Country Office in Uzbekistan
conducted a series of trainings for students at the
Hosildor Zamin educational complex-nursery, located
in the Kashkadarya region. The classes were held with
the support of the FAO project “Integrated Natural
Resource Management in Drought- and Salinity-
prone Agricultural Landscapes of Central Asia and
Turkey” (CACILM-2), which is funded by the Global
Environment Facility (GEF).
During the classes, FAO experts spoke about the im-
portance of crop diversity for the effective use of
farmland, considered issues such as effective green-
house management, the basics of entrepreneurship,
financial literacy, budget allocation, as well as the or-
ganization of crop rotations, features of growing veg-
etable crops in personal plots and much more. The
classes were held for students of the educational
complex-nursery Hosildor Zamin, who were selected
from among the citizens included in the “Iron Note-
book”, “Youth Notebook” and “Women’s Notebook”
- a database of individual families of Uzbekistan with
difficult social situations and living conditions.
“Training representatives of socially vulnerable
groups in managing household plots, the basics of en-
trepreneurship, and the peculiarities of growing seed-
lings in the climatic conditions of the Kashkadarya re-
gion will help solve employment problems and im-
prove their socio-economic situation. At the same
time, it is very important to apply modern advanced
technologies for the conservation of biodiversity and
use resource-saving agricultural methods,” said na-
tional project manager of CACILM-2 Muhammadjon
Kosimov.
The educational complex-nursery Hosildor Zamin was
formed with the aim of preserving local varieties of
fruit trees, adapting them to changing climatic condi-
tions, as well as multiplying them using the in-vitro la-
boratory method. The project was created within the
framework of an agreement between the Interna-
tional Public Fund Zamin, the Ministry of Agriculture
of Uzbekistan and the Khokimiyat of the Kashkadarya
region with the support of the European Union and
the World Bank. The curriculum was developed with
the participation of FAO experts, specialists from the
International Agricultural University in Tashkent and
the Research Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and
Winemaking named after. Academician M. Mirzaev,
| 15 |
who are involved in conducting seminars and train-
ings at all stages of the educational process.
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
Training on the Use of Digital and GIS Technologies
The FAO Promotes Digital Forest
Inventory in Uzbekistan
FAO, together with the Forestry Agency under the
Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and
Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ur-
monloyikha Design Institute and the Forestry Re-
search Institute, organized training in the Tashkent
region on the use of digital and geographic infor-
mation (GIS) technologies in the survey of forest ar-
eas. Specialists from Kitab, Dekhkanabad, Pop and
Syrdarya forest organizations took part in the field
training. The classes were conducted by FAO interna-
tional consultant, GIS expert Nadiya Muratova from
Canada.
The introduction of digital technologies and GIS tools
in forestry activities is one of the important tasks of
the FAO project “Sustainable Forest Management in
Mountain and Valley Areas of Uzbekistan”. The pro-
ject is funded by the Global Environment Facility
(GEF) and is being implemented jointly with the For-
estry Agency under the Ministry of Ecology, Environ-
mental Protection and Climate Change of the Repub-
lic of Uzbekistan.
During the training, participants learned modern
methods of collecting information about forests and
woody vegetation outside the forests, types of land
use and taxometric characteristics of forest re-
sources. The “Field Work Guidelines: Survey and
Measurement on Trial Plots” developed by the FAO
were presented to the attention of the specialists. In
addition, the training participants familiarized with
working with equipment such as a field computer,
personal navigation devices, a laser rangefinder and
an electronic caliper.
Uzbekistan Promotes Climate-smart
Wheat Production Methods
On March 23, 2023 a Coordination Committee meet-
ing of the FAO project “Food Systems, Land Use and
Restoration Impact Program in Uzbekistan” was held.
The project is implemented with the support of the
Global Environment Facility (GEF) and aims to pro-
mote sustainable agricultural production to preserve
ecosystems and combat land degradation. The na-
tional partners are the Ministry of Ecology, Environ-
mental Protection and Climate Change and the Min-
istry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
The Coordination Committee Meeting
The project team presented the goals and objectives
of the project and the meeting participants reviewed
and approved the work plan and budget for 2023 and
discussed the strategy and further steps for the im-
plementation of the project. The project aims to stim-
ulate the large-scale adoption of efficient land man-
agement technologies and conservation approaches
and encourage the creation of green value chains to
realize the transition from ecosystem degradation to
sustainable management, with multiple benefits.
“We will introduce effective land management tech-
nologies and environmental approaches to prevent
ecosystem degradation. As a result of our project in
Uzbekistan, it is planned to reduce 1 million tons of
carbon dioxide emissions, ecologically restore land on
an area of 50,000 hectares, promote biodiversity con-
servation on another 50,000 hectares, and introduce
improved land management methods on 300,000
hectares of project areas with the predominance of
wheat,” noted Aziz Nurbekov, coordinator of the pro-
ject “Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact
Program in Uzbekistan”.
| 16 |
FAO contributes to maintaining land
degradation neutrality in Uzbekistan
On April 4, 2023, a meeting of the Steering Commit-
tee of the FAO project “Sustainable Forest and Range-
lands Management in the Dryland Ecosystems of Uz-
bekistan” was held. Funded by the Global Environ-
ment Facility (GEF), this project will introduce best
practices in Uzbekistan on sustainable management
of land and forest resources and landscape restora-
tion in order to fulfill the country's obligations regard-
ing the land degradation neutrality. The national part-
ners are the Forestry Agency under the Ministry of
Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate
Change and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Repub-
lic of Uzbekistan.
The territory of Uzbekistan, requiring measures to
combat desertification, exceeds 20 million hectares.
Land degradation is observed throughout the coun-
try, but the territories concentrated in the districts of
Bukhara and Navoi regions and in the lowlands of the
Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins have been most
affected by these processes.
© CivilPlanets
Drought-affected Soils
“The project will be implemented within 5 years. The
project areas include the landscapes of the Jondor
district of Bukhara region and Nurota district of Navoi
region, where measures will be implemented to intro-
duce integrated land use plans, increase the poten-
tial, knowledge and skills of farmers, and improve
land use monitoring systems. At the same time, spe-
cial attention will be paid to maintaining gender bal-
ance while creating improved pasture use conditions.
Much attention will be paid to improvement of na-
tional indicators of land degradation, as well as the
integration of globally recognized indicators at the
national level. In addition, we will contribute to the
mobilization of resources in the sphere to achieve a
land degradation neutrality”, advised Nariman
Nishanov, chief Technical Adviser of the project “Sus-
tainable Forest and Rangelands Management in the
Dryland Ecosystems of Uzbekistan”.
During the meeting, the goals and objectives of the
project were presented by the project team, and par-
ticipants approved the half-year report of the project
on the implemented activities was, reviewed and sup-
ported the work plan and budget for 2023, discussed
the strategy and further steps for the implementation
of the project.
Supporting Agriculture in Border Areas
© FAO
Delivery of Agricultural Equipment to Beneficiaries
In the Fergana Valley's border regions, a significant ef-
fort is underway as part of the "Shared prosperity
through cooperation in border regions of Kyrgyzstan
and Uzbekistan" project. This project, funded by the
United Nations Secretary-General's Peacebuilding
Fund and carried out jointly by the Food and Agricul-
ture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Pop-
ulation Fund (UNFPA), aims to provide substantial
help to people living in these border areas.
Specifically, households in the Marhamat district of
the Andijan region and the Kasansay and Yangikurgan
districts of the Namangan region have received agri-
cultural equipment, seedlings, and seeds. These re-
sources will help boost farming and increase the in-
come of people in rural areas. FAO's goal in this initi-
ative is not just to support farming but also to pro-
mote fairness between genders and create more op-
portunities for marginalized groups. These groups
| 17 |
play a crucial role in achieving sustainable develop-
ment and prosperity in these border regions.
As of June 2023, beneficiaries have received a signifi-
cant package, including 10,000 kilograms of seed po-
tatoes, 5,850 young fruit trees, 24,000 units of vege-
table seedlings, and 28 pieces of modern agricultural
machinery like two-wheel tractors and milk separa-
tors. Following the distribution of these resources,
special training sessions have been organized for the
project's beneficiaries. These sessions provide them
with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively
use the equipment and agricultural products they've
received.
One noteworthy aspect of the project is beekeeping
training that took place from June 14 to 17. These
workshops, conducted by FAO in collaboration with
the Association of Women in the Agricultural Sector
of Uzbekistan, have given participants basic
knowledge about beekeeping and modern beekeep-
ing practices. This knowledge will empower them to
expand their agricultural activities and increase their
income in the future.
Additionally, on June 20-21, training sessions on dairy
production and processing were held for rural women
from the Kasansay and Yangikurgan districts of the
Namangan region. These sessions covered important
topics like preventing livestock diseases, creating
proper animal feed, and safely processing milk at
home. The new knowledge and skills gained from
these sessions will help the participants increase
productivity and income in the farming sector. This,
in turn, will contribute to more active and sustainable
farming and open up new opportunities for coopera-
tion in these border regions.
The "Shared prosperity through cooperation in bor-
der regions of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan" project
aims to strengthen relations on both sides of the bor-
der that run through the Fergana Valley. It does so by
promoting cooperation in agriculture and other key
areas, with a special focus on creating opportunities
for women and young people in these border regions.
This forward-looking project significantly contributes
to achieving Sustainable Development Goals and
aligns with the United Nations' efforts to promote
peace, stability, and sustainable development.
Regional Workshop on Aquaculture
Diversification takes place in Tashkent
A Regional Workshop on Aquaculture Diversification
targeting smallholder farmers and extension agents
was co-hosted by the FAO in partnership with the
Committee of Veterinary and Livestock Development
of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Uzbekistan Re-
search Institute of Fisheries and the “O’zbek-
baliqsanoat” Association. The workshop, which took
place in Tashkent, was organized as a component of
the “Capacity Development for Sustainable Fisheries
and Aquaculture Management in Central Asia, Azer-
baijan and Türkiye – FISHCap Project”, a project de-
veloped under the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Pro-
gramme (FTPP II).
Species diversification in aquaculture is a strategy
that contributes towards sustainable sectoral devel-
opment. The event provided participants with an un-
derstanding of potential opportunities and con-
straints to the diversification of aquaculture produc-
tion in their countries, and insights into the modalities
for new species introductions requiring the support
of government agencies, researchers and the private
sector. The workshop brought together participants
from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. The target au-
dience included government agencies involved in aq-
uaculture planning, policy development, manage-
ment and aquaculture extension services, managers
of fish farms, smallholder fish farmers, and research-
ers working in aquaculture development.
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
Regional Workshop on Aquaculture Diversification
The workshop included the presentation of case stud-
ies and lectures from Europe and Uzbekistan, and
country presentations that informed a regional syn-
thesis of the current status of species diversification.
It was noted that while species diversification leads to
| 18 |
resilience and enhances sustainable aquaculture de-
velopment, the introduction of new culture species to
a country can be financially costly and technically dif-
ficult to achieve. In this regard, it is essential for
policy-makers, planners and the private sector to as-
sess the development resources available to them
when evaluating prospects for the successful intro-
duction of a new culture species.
"Life Sciences Festival" at the
International Agricultural University
© FAO
Khurshid Norov Delivers a Presentation on Food Security
The International Agricultural University in Tashkent
hosted the "Life Sciences Festival” in June 2023. This
extraordinary event, presented in the form of an
"Open Day," marked a pioneering venture into a new
festival format. It was dedicated to the exploration of
life sciences and brought together an impressive ar-
ray of institutions and partners, including the Interna-
tional Agricultural University in Tashkent, the Minis-
try of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the
FAO, the United Nations Development Program, and
various other collaborative organizations.
The choice to center the festival around life sciences
was far from arbitrary; it deliberately delved into the
most pertinent themes and cutting-edge scientific
and practical disciplines of our time. At the forefront
of these discussions was the symbiotic evolution of
humanity and nature. The festival's program featured
a diverse range of subjects, including agriculture, bi-
ology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, biolinguistics,
ecology, food science, genetics, genomics, immunol-
ogy, healthcare, microbiology, and physiology. This
list, while comprehensive, is by no means exhaustive
and only underscores the richness of topics explored
during the festival.
FAO Promotes Agricultural
Digitalization in Uzbekistan
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
Sophie Treinen, FAO Communication for Development Officer, pre-
sents the project
On the 1st and 2nd of March, 2023, the workshop on
transforming Uzbekistan’s agriculture through
knowledge, innovation and digitalization brought to-
gether in Tashkent national and foreign stakeholders
to present the status of innovation and digitalization
of agriculture in Uzbekistan and gain from the experi-
ences of other countries. The workshop officially
launched the project “Preparing the Grounds for Dig-
ital Transformation of Agriculture” implemented by
the FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Repub-
lic of Uzbekistan. The project is designed to address
the challenges towards innovation and digital trans-
formation of the entire agri-food sector. One of the
challenges is to have a clear vision and a roadmap in
advancing innovation and digital agriculture, enhanc-
ing cooperation and improving the exchange of
knowledge among farmers, agribusiness entrepre-
neurs, and research and extension services at na-
tional and decentralized level (Fergana valley as a pi-
lot).
The project outputs are aligned with the presidential
decrees on approval of the strategy “Digital Uzbeki-
stan-2030” and “Measures for Effective Implementa-
tion and Further Improvement of Knowledge Systems
and Innovation and the Provision of Modern Services
in Agriculture” signed respectively in 2020 and 2021.
Speakers highlighted their experiences, the chal-
lenges faced, the opportunities for collaboration and
synergies. The FAO’s role was to facilitate the crea-
tion and scaling up of innovations, whether digital or
not, with an impact in agri-food systems. The FAO
| 19 |
helps design and enable new services, tools and ap-
proaches to empower rural households and inspire
entrepreneurship.
The workshop provided good platform for key na-
tional stakeholders and foreign experts to exchange
current experience and identify ways in which all par-
ties can contribute to the overall objective of
strengthening agri-food knowledge, innovation and
digitalization.
Digital solutions
for sustainable apiculture
On the occasion of the World Bee Day, the FAO Sub-
regional Office for Central Asia convened stakehold-
ers from Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Turkiye in Tash-
kent to take a stock of the current situation on digital
solutions in apiculture and to discuss a way forward.
The workshop “Digital solutions in apiculture: prac-
tices and experiences in Central Asia and beyond”
was held in hybrid format and brought together rep-
resentatives from relevant ministries and depart-
ments, public and private sector, academia and re-
search organizations, donors, NGOs, civil society, so-
cial movements and community-based organizations,
inter-governmental and multi-lateral institutions in
the Association of Uzbekistan Beekeepers.
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
Regional Workshop Participants Evaluate a Wide Selection of Uzbek
Honey
The workshop participants showcased existing IT in-
novations relevant to beekeeping in Central Asia and
worldwide, discussed their usefulness and applicabil-
ity in the region, and identified accelerators and in-
hibitors of wider adoption. The wide range of speak-
ers shared their views and best practices on digital so-
lutions in apiculture.
Central Asian Animal Health Network
Members met in Samarkand
The Central Asian Animal Health Network (CAAHN)
convened on 8−9 June for its third meeting since its
establishment in 2019 in the historical city of Samar-
kand, Uzbekistan, to delve into the future of animal
health and the One Health approach within the re-
gion.
Organized by the FAO, in collaboration with the
World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Sub-
Regional Representation for Central Asia, the work-
shop brought together representatives from the vet-
erinary services of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and major
international players in the region, including USAID
and the World Bank.
The primary work of the CAAHN network is to address
zoonotic diseases – those illnesses that can be trans-
mitted between species animals to humans, such as
brucellosis, echinococcosis, anthrax, and tuberculo-
sis. To be controlled, zoonoses and transboundary
diseases require a multifaceted, multi-sectoral re-
sponse, as delivered by One Health.
One Health is an integrated approach that aims to
sustainably balance the health of people, animals,
and ecosystems. The network promotes One Health
as a way to prevent and mitigate transboundary, zo-
onoses and antimicrobial resistance at the human-an-
imal-plant interfaces.
“Perhaps most importantly, the network is crucial in
streamlining and coordinating initiatives and projects
related to animal health and One Health in Central
Asia, which avoids duplication and overlapping efforts
by international agencies and countries,” commented
Daniel Beltrán-Alcrudo, Technical Advisor on Animal
Health.
During the workshop, participating countries and in-
ternational agencies had an opportunity to map out
and discuss key activities, initiatives, and priorities
concerning animal health and One Health in Central
Asia. The CAAHN action plan underwent a thorough
revision and update, with particular emphasis given
to issues related to network sustainability.
| 20 |
Among others it was agreed that FAO should take the
lead in developing a regional training plan that aligns
countries' specific needs with existing and forthcom-
ing knowledge-sharing programmes offered by vari-
ous agencies. Focal points from the national public
health authorities will be identified to join the net-
work, in line with the One Health approach.
Furthermore, the veterinary services of the five Cen-
tral Asian countries have confirmed their intention to
formalize their collaboration within the framework of
the network through a memorandum of understand-
ing.
© FAO
Among the workshop’s notable sessions was the one
dedicated to the brucellosis situation in the region.
Brucellosis is a serious and significant health chal-
lenge. Participants explored strategies for bringing it
under control through a coordinated regional ap-
proach.
As the event concluded, countries and international
agencies pledged to continue their collaborative ef-
forts based on the Action Plan and reconvene in one
year to assess progress and address emerging priori-
ties.
"The Central Asian Animal Health Network provides
an invaluable platform for building strong technical
capacity, fostering competency, nurturing leadership,
and establishing a critical mass of specialists net-
worked across the region. This collaboration is crucial
in promoting animal health and the One Health ap-
proach in Central Asia," emphasized Gulzhan Nur-
tazina, Regional Coordinator of the Virtual Learning
Centre at FAO.
The Results of the FAO Project Aimed
at Developing the Potato Industry in
Uzbekistan have been summarized
At the final seminar in Tashkent, the results of the
project “Recovery and Development of the Potato
Sector in Response to COVID-19”, which was imple-
mented from 2021 to 2023 by the FAO jointly with the
Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, were summa-
rized. The event was attended by national and inter-
national experts who spoke about the results
achieved.
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
Final Seminar on the Project “Recovery and Development of the Po-
tato Sector in Response to COVID-19”
“The project was implemented with the participation
of national and international experts. During the im-
plementation, the national systems of Uzbekistan for
the registration of potato varieties, as well as for the
production and certification of seed potatoes, were
analyzed, and based on the results, experts provided
their recommendations. In addition, a number of
trainings were conducted to increase the potential of
employees of the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbeki-
stan, private companies and other specialized organ-
izations in the field of potato growing. As part of the
project, a training trip to Turkey was also organized
for Uzbek potato specialists,” said Peter Wlodarczyk,
a specialist at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and
Central Asia.
The project was initiated due to the fact that in Uz-
bekistan, as in many countries, potato production
was negatively affected by the consequences of the
COVID-19 pandemic, when consumer demand for
products could not be fully satisfied due to re-
strictions on the movement of goods and people, cre-
ating a threat to food security. The main goal of the
project was to increase the production potential of
the potato growing industry in Uzbekistan by growing
a higher, more sustainable and high-quality crop.
| 21 |
After all, billions of people around the world cannot
imagine their daily diet without potatoes, which at
the same time are an important source of income for
agricultural producers, including small farmers. Ac-
cording to the FAO, today, potatoes are grown on an
area of more than 20 million hectares in 150 coun-
tries.
The implementation of the project “Recovery and de-
velopment of the potato sector in response to COVID-
19” contributed to the development of a sustainable
potato production system in Uzbekistan based on
best foreign practices. To achieve this, work was car-
ried out to improve the system for registering potato
varieties and certification of seeds, improving re-
search on modernizing potato production, protecting
against diseases and pests, improving storage condi-
tions for products, as well as training farmers, agron-
omists and other specialists working in this sector. In
particular, as part of the project, a series of trainings
were held on topical issues in the development of the
potato growing industry. The trainings were con-
ducted with the involvement of international FAO ex-
perts and specialists from organizations including the
Center for the Development of Seed Production un-
der the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, the
Council of Farmers, Dekhkan Farms and Owners of
Household Lands of Uzbekistan, the Agency for Quar-
antine and Plant Protection, and the Research Insti-
tute of Vegetables, Melons and Potatoes.
© FAO
In addition, as part of the project, a SWOT analysis
was conducted on the production of food potatoes,
the production of seed potatoes and the certification
system for seed potatoes in Uzbekistan. This method
allowed for the clear assessment of the development
of the industry, taking into account external threats
and opportunities, as well as drawing up an action
plan and subsequently make key decisions on the
development of the potato sector, taking into ac-
count strengths and weaknesses.
FAO Promotes Branding of Unique Prod-
ucts of Uzbekistan
From the 1st to the 17th of May 2023, in the Fergana,
Namangan, Samarkand and Syrdarya regions, the
FAO conducted trainings on the implementation of a
sustainable system of geographical indications in Uz-
bekistan. The trainings were organized with the par-
ticipation of experts from the FAO and the Ministry of
Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan for local farmers,
entrepreneurs and craftsmen. The trainings were
held within the framework of the FAO project
"Strengthening Sustainable Food Systems through
Geographical Indications", which is being imple-
mented jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture of the
Republic of Uzbekistan.
The main objective of the trainings was to widely in-
form producers about the advantages of using geo-
graphical indications. The experts explained to the
participants how geographical indications can con-
tribute to increasing farm incomes, expanding ex-
ports of agricultural and other food products, as well
as traditional handicrafts. During the interactive ses-
sions, the training participants learned how to com-
pile primary documents for the registration of geo-
graphic indications for traditional products of their re-
gions.
According to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan
"On Geographical Indications", which was developed
with the participation of FAO experts, products with
geographical indications in Uzbekistan can receive le-
gal protection as objects of intellectual property.
Within one year after the adoption of the law, four
products have already been registered in the country
as objects of intellectual property. Among them are
"Margilan Adras", "Margilan Atlas", "Kokand knives"
and "Zaamin tandir-gusht".
As the FAO international expert on geographical indi-
cations Sertac Dokuzlu noted during the training, ge-
ographical indications are now becoming an im-
portant tool for rural development and support of lo-
cal communities. Geographical indications make it
possible to distinguish products that are produced in
certain territories and have special properties, and
therefore added value for consumers. And consumers
can more easily navigate the market by purchasing
products with guaranteed distinctive properties and
high quality.
As world practice shows, the use of geographical indi-
cations can serve as an effective means of increasing
| 22 |
the export potential of regions and territorial brand-
ing.
© FAO
Support was Provided to Entrepreneurs
and Farmers of the Aral Sea Region
In Karakalpakstan, the implementation of a joint pro-
ject of the United Nations Development Program
(UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
and the FAO has been completed, the effect of which
will last for years to come. The joint program, imple-
mented from 2021 to 2023, was aimed at promoting
the creative and innovative potential of youth and
vulnerable populations by strengthening their adap-
tive capacity to solve problems of economic and food
security in vulnerable communities in the Aral Sea re-
gion. The initiative was funded by the UN Multi-Part-
ner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea
Region.
Given the specific characteristics of the region's econ-
omy, where a large part of the rural population -
youth and women - are employed in agriculture, one
of the directions of the joint project of UNDP, UNFPA
and the FAO was the promotion of innovative agricul-
tural methods at the household level. In particular,
special attention was paid to creating an enabling en-
vironment for income generation in rural communi-
ties through innovative farming methods and piloting
new initiatives.
An example of this is the support provided by the FAO
in developing the businesses of local entrepreneurs in
the Aral Sea region. In particular, in June 2023, project
beneficiaries Salamat Erzhanov and Makhset
Toksanbaev from the Muynak district of Karakalpak-
stan received the necessary equipment and machin-
ery to modernize fish ponds on their land plots in or-
der to grow commercial fish for subsequent sale. The
FAO provided entrepreneurs with all the necessary
support, including the transfer and installation of aer-
ators, automatic feeders, as well as food supplies and
fish for breeding. To date, work has already begun on
fish breeding in the new fish ponds for subsequent
sale.
Last year the same fish pond was formed in the
Bozatau district of Karakalpakstan for another bene-
ficiary of the project, Sadyk Duisenbayev, who suc-
cessfully implemented this commercial idea and,
thereafter, was able to increase the income of his
household. Trainings organized by the FAO for project
beneficiaries also played an important role. In total,
during the implementation of the project, the FAO or-
ganized more than 30 trainings on agricultural devel-
opment, in which 816 people took part, including 552
women. The training participants studied advanced
foreign experience in livestock farming, horticulture,
the use of water-saving technologies in agriculture,
conservation agriculture and fish farming. FAO part-
ners included the Scientific Research Institute on Fish-
eries, the International Center for Biosaline Agricul-
ture (ICBA) and the Association of Agricultural
Women of Uzbekistan.
In addition, as part of the project, the FAO built three
fruit tree nurseries in three households in the
Muynak, Kungrad and Bozatau districts of Karakalpak-
stan. In total, more than 3,000 seedlings were
planted. The beneficiaries were given the necessary
equipment and machinery for the further develop-
ment of gardening and increasing income.
Thus, as part of the implementation of the Joint Pro-
gramme, the FAO made a significant contribution to
building the skills and abilities of target groups for the
productive use of land resources and increasing the
income of rural families, thereby helping to support
vulnerable populations and solve economic and food
problems following the UN principle of “leaving no
one behind”.
Best Practices for Diagnosing Lumpy
Skin Disease are being Introduced in
Uzbekistan
In May 2023, the FAO, together with the Republican
State Center for Diagnostics of Animal Diseases and
Food Safety under the Committee of Veterinary and
| 23 |
Livestock Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
organized trainings in laboratory diagnosis of lumpy
skin disease in Tashkent. The training was conducted
by international expert Igor Dzhadzhovsky for em-
ployees of diagnostic veterinary laboratories from dif-
ferent regions of the country. The training was orga-
nized within the framework of the FAO project
“Strengthening the Regional Preparedness Against
Lumpy Skin Disease in Central Asia.”
© FAO
Practical Exercises to Combat Lumpy Skin Disease
The FAO has significant experience in helping coun-
tries control Lumpy Skin Disease and other trans-
boundary animal diseases. The FAO project
“Strengthening the Regional Preparedness Against
Lumpy Skin Disease in Central Asia” is being imple-
mented in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and
aims to prevent the spread of the disease in these
countries and ensure an effective response if it is de-
tected. The implementation of the project will pre-
vent damage to small farmers whose livelihoods di-
rectly depend on livestock.
The five-day training, held in Tashkent, included both
a theoretical and practical component. The acquired
knowledge and skills will allow domestic specialists to
diagnose animal diseases much faster and more effi-
ciently, based on advanced methods that guarantee
high accuracy.
Let us recall that earlier in November 2022, as part of
the project, the FAO donated laboratory equipment,
supplies and reagents to the Republican State Center
for the Diagnostics of Animal Diseases and Food
Safety of Uzbekistan in order to counter the threat of
lumpy skin disease in the country.
The FAO Held a Festive Campaign
in Tashkent for Navruz and
the International Day of Forests
On 15 March 2023, a gala event was held at the FAO
Country Office in Uzbekistan to celebrate Navruz and
the International Day of Forests. The event was at-
tended by representatives of ministries, departments
and international organizations.
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
National Uzbek Music is an integral element of the spring holiday
In accordance with the 2003 Convention for the Safe-
guarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Navruz
was included in the Representative List of the Intan-
gible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. In 2010,
the UN General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as
“International Navruz Day,” welcoming the efforts of
member states celebrating this holiday to preserve
and develop the traditions and culture associated
with it. The UN General Assembly resolution calls on
member states to make efforts to raise awareness of
Navruz and hold annual events to commemorate the
spring equinox.
Navruz is of particular significance for the FAO be-
cause this ancient holiday has been celebrated since
the existence of agriculture and symbolizes the arrival
of spring and the beginning of agricultural work.
Another important date, the International Day of For-
ests, was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in
2012 to raise awareness among the general public
about the importance of all types of forests.
Some rights reserved. This work is available un-
der a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO license
© FAO/Guzal Fayzieva
Tree Planting Campaigners
Every year on this day, countries are encouraged to
make local, national and international efforts to or-
ganize events related to greening areas and caring for
the environment. The theme of the International Day
of Forests 2023 is “Forests and Health”.
In this regard, as part of the celebration of two im-
portant dates, the FAO Country Office in Uzbekistan,
together with a number of partners, organized a tree
planting campaign. It is important to note that the im-
provement of territories and the maintenance of a
healthy environment are in tune with the goals and
objectives of the national program “Yashil Makon”,
initiated by the head of the State. The event noted
that forests also play a critical role in fighting poverty
and achieving sustainable development goals.
The festive event was held with the support of the
FAO project “Sustainable Forest Management in
Mountain and Valley Areas of Uzbekistan”, which is
funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It is
to be noted that in the framework of the implemen-
tation of the project, in the forest territories of
Syrdarya, Kashkadarya and Namangan regions, work
is being carried out on the effective implementation
of the principles of sustainable management of for-
ests, rational use of forest resources, conservation of
productivity and ecological functional forests, biolog-
ical and landscape diversity. In addition, during the
implementation of the project, special attention is
paid to landscaping, the introduction of information
and communication technologies in the processes of
sustainable forest management and ensuring gender
equality into the forestry sector.
Contact information:
CC7501EN/1/11.23
FAO Representation in Uzbekistan
Email: fao-uz@fao.org
©FAO, 2023
Website: http://www.fao.org/europe/en/
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Tashkent, Uzbekistan