BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5
By Ilkin Seyfaddini – Trend:
Uzbekistan plans to improve its wheat production system and reduce environmental damage by 2024, Trend reports citing United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The project is implemented in cooperation with FAO and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Wheat is considered one of the main food commodities in Uzbekistan. The country is not only its largest producer and importer in Central Asia, but also ranks sixth in the world in wheat consumption.
Over the past 30 years, the volume of wheat production in Uzbekistan has increased almost six-fold, which not only entailed environmental costs, but also revealed gaps in the value chain.
At present, wheat production systems have a significant impact on the environment. Uzbekistan intends to scale up best practices to ensure the sustainability and inclusiveness of wheat production and value chains.
The Global Environment Facility has decided to co-finance the FAO efforts in Uzbekistan aimed at reorienting food systems and land use.
The GEF Council intends to cover the costs of $6.7 million out of the total budget of $71.2 million within the framework of the global Program for Impact on Food Systems, Land Use and Rehabilitation. The remainder will be funded by FAO and country partners.
According to the project, biological diversity will be enriched in all regions of the country by 2024. Food systems, land use and rehabilitation will be improved and better managed.
The project also intends to contribute to the improvement of national legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks, as well as to the adoption of incentives for the use of integrated land management and climate-smart wheat production methods.
As reported, a 350,000-hectare demonstration area will be established in irrigated productive landscapes to provide first-hand experience in organic food production.
Furthermore, the project will encourage the widespread adoption of effective land-use and conservation technologies and encourage the establishment of green value chains.
FAO was selected to assist Uzbekistan through an open, competitive and transparent process. The selection was conducted among 18 agencies cooperating with GEF, the organization specified.
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