UN to assist Uzbekistan in food production
The Uzbek government and the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) have signed a country programming framework
covering the period from 2014 to 2017, FAO Regional Office for
Europe and Central Asia said.
The program envisages technical support of FAO to Uzbekistan in
diversifying crops, improving livestock health and production,
stepping up locust control, expanding fish production and managing
natural resources in a sustainable way.
The agreement was signed by Uzbekistan's Agriculture and Water
Resources Minister Shuhrat Teshaev and FAO Representative for
Uzbekistan, Yuriko Shoji.
The new programming framework lays the groundwork for FAO technical
support to Uzbekistan, in collaboration with resource partners, the
private sector and other national and international entities.
Under the agreement, FAO and Uzbekistan plan to explore modern
fruit production including orchards and vineyards. Introduction of
new technologies for planting, harvesting, processing and storage
are envisaged, to extend shelf life and increase export volume. In
these and other crops, FAO will provide technical support on
conservation agriculture and other good agricultural practices for
both rain-fed and irrigated farming systems.
Livestock productivity and efforts to combat livestock diseases
such as brucellosis and foot-and-mouth disease are highlighted,
along with support to the country's veterinary services. Emphasis
will be given to beekeeping, in view of its importance for crop
pollination, and the potential for honey production and bee-based
medical products.
Conservation and management of fisheries resources, high-quality
fish feed production, aquaculture production systems and
development of the supply chain for fish and fishery products are
foreseen in the agreement.
The need to preserve Uzbekistan's natural resources while using
them in a sustainable way is underscored. Forest resources, drought
risk management, wildlife management, wastewater treatment and
other areas for collaborative action are also featured.
This document follows the signing earlier in 2014 of a "host
country agreement" for establishment of an FAO Representation in
Tashkent.
The organization's representation was opened in early June during
the visit of FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva to
Uzbekistan.