Observing of the worldwide experience in this area and introduction of Extension service to farmers and households are an effective tool of developing the sector. These issues were covered as the main focus of the seminar on “Experience of smallholder livestock management in the world: Positive Aspects, Development Prospects and the role of Extension Service in Livestock Development” organized within the framework of the joint project “Support to Sustainable Development of the Livestock Sector in Uzbekistan”, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation - MASHAV.

During the presentation Ms. Lucy Maarse, international consultant talked about characteristics and development stages of small meat and dairy livestock farms in countries with various levels of livestock development. Ms. Maarse highlighted the importance of adapting world experience to the conditions of Uzbekistan. Discussion of the prospective of establishing a cooperative among agricultural entities – farmers and households stirred particular interest among the participants. MASHAV expert Ms. Talila Staretz talked about experience of Extension service in Israel. “Extension service is aimed at increasing knowledge and skills of people, engaged in agriculture in order to achieve better decision making, optimize utilization of their resources and make production more profitable” – said Ms. Staretz.

Learning, adaptation and application of international experience in the conditions of Uzbekistan can be effective only thorough analysis of the current situation in the livestock breeding entities of the country. In this regard, leading experts in the livestock sector – professors of Tashkent State Agrarian University disclosed defining factors of management in small livestock breeding entities in the country, the role of cattle breed composition and differences in livestock breeding farms and household entities. Discussion of pasture grazing in the conditions of smallholder households caused a vivid discussion among participants.

In the final part of the seminar project experts presented possible recommendations on cattle feeding, forage preservation, livestock management in farms and household entities and use of artificial insemination in the conditions of smallholder livestock breeding entities of Uzbekistan. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan, United Nations Development Program, Tashkent State Agrarian University, the Embassy of the State of Israel in Uzbekistan, farmers and dehkans took part in the seminar.