TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 18. Uzbekistan and the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) discussed cooperation on sustainable agricultural development, Trend reports.
The matter was reviewed during a meeting between Munira Aminova, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, and Sherzod Umarov, Deputy Representative of the FAO in Uzbekistan.
During the meeting, the sides focused on key issues of cooperation, including attracting international funds and donor countries for the implementation of environmentally sustainable projects, diversifying agricultural production with a focus on sustainable development and modernization, and developing gene banks to preserve agricultural biodiversity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan expressed its readiness to support the FAO in these initiatives, reinforcing the country’s commitment to achieving food security, sustainable rural development, and enhancing the well-being of its population.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan will create a dedicated council for the development of dehkan farms (small-scale family farms, focused on subsistence agriculture and local markets) and household agriculture.
The new council will oversee public training, the supply of seeds and seedlings, as well as the processing and export of agricultural products. Under its management, the UzAgroStar holding will be established, with nine state banks launching 15 specialized companies focused on fruit and vegetable cultivation.
To note, the aggregate quantity of collaborative initiatives between Uzbekistan and the FAO stands at 66, with a cumulative financial allocation of 70.05 million US dollars. As of now, a total of 33 initiatives have been executed, aggregating a financial outlay of US$15.03 million. At present, there are 33 initiatives in the pipeline, collectively valued at $55.14 million, alongside an additional 4 ventures with a total valuation of $41.3 million also in the development phase.
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