The EU Delegation holds a media tour of the research institutes and laboratories of the agri-food industry in Uzbekistan, supported by grant funding in the amount of US$5.8 million
18/07/2022 21:37
The EU Delegation holds a media tour of the research institutes and laboratories of the agri-food industry in Uzbekistan, supported by grant funding in the amount of US$5.8 million
18/07/2022 21:37
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The European Union supports food security and food safety in Uzbekistan. As part of a broader financial assistance package, this includes strengthening the capacity of research institutes (RIIs), quarantine and plant protection support services in the country. Ensuring the availability of healthy and safe food is equally important for Uzbekistan’s consumers as it is to enhance the export potential of Uzbek agribusiness. Journalists learned about this during a press tour of two EU-funded agri-food facilities in Tashkent region.
The EU has identified support for the development of Uzbekistan’s smart, environmentally friendly agri-food sector and rural livelihoods as a strategic priority in bilateral relations. The EU is the largest donor for the agri-food sector in Uzbekistan.
The European Union has allocated more than US$5.8 million to support the development of research institute facilities and laboratories in Uzbekistan under the flagship Horticulture Development Project. A total of 10 institutes in different regions of the country received modern equipment and new technologies. This will provide a significant increase in the capacity of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) and access to testing services for farmers and agribusiness.
“The European Union is working with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, using various tools, including grant support for the budget. This allows the government to gradually focus its spending on new strategically important areas, such as the development of research and services to support farmers and their businesses,” said Danuta El Guff, Program Manager of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Uzbekistan, responsible for the agri-food sector.
“This is a very important investment that is needed if research institutions are to play their role in supporting agribusiness growth and sustainable rural livelihoods,” El Guff added.
Promoting increased cooperation between farmers, agribusiness, research institutions and government is one of the main objectives of the Horticulture Development Project. The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of green technologies that enable farmers to produce food using energy and water efficiently while reducing costs. EU grant assistance is important to ensure that new technologies and support services are accessible and affordable for all agricultural producers and the agro-industrial complex.
“We are working in partnership with banks, research institutes and government agencies to develop programs that can really make a difference. The reason why the EU is focusing on agriculture is because this sector is the driving force behind the economy and the leading sector of employment in Uzbekistan,” said Adrian Neel, expert, EU technical assistance manager for the agri-food sector in Uzbekistan.
During the media tour, journalists visited two sites. The first object is the Research Institute of Vegetables, Melons and Potatoes, located in the Tashkent region. The EU provided about US$2.5 million in financial support for the modernization of this research institute under the Horticulture Development Project in cooperation with the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan.
The aim of the project is to increase the productivity and profitability of the fruit and vegetable sectors by creating sustainable value chains, including the modernization of research capacity and support services for plant breeding, seed production and plant protection, as well as the introduction of international product quality standards.
The Institute conducts biochemical analysis of soil, vegetables and fruits in its state-of-the-art laboratory, equipped with EU financial support. EU support also included the funding needed for additional training for 32 participants from regional laboratories on the topic: "Modern methods and conditions for creating hybrids of vegetable and melon crops for open and protected ground and obtaining high-quality seed material." In addition, the staff of the institute took 6-month courses in English.
“Using new technologies and applying the advice of international experts, our institute is developing new methods for growing vegetables. We also develop new varieties of vegetables, melons and potatoes that suit the local climate. This is a key element to reduce dependence on imports and ensure our food security,” said Fakhriddin Rasulov, head of the laboratory and senior expert at the Research Institute of Vegetables, Melons and Potatoes.
The media tour also included a visit to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Agency, a government organization established in 2021 on the basis of the State Plant Quarantine Inspectorate. Like the research institute, the laboratory of the Plant Protection Agency received financial support from the EU under the Horticulture Development Project. To date, the EU has provided US$ 1.4 million in funding to the Agency.
Every day, the agency receives about 500 samples for testing to ensure the safety of imported agricultural products, as well as domestic products of Uzbekistan. With regard to imported products, the Agency guarantees that they pass the appropriate quality control before they are allowed for consumption by the population of Uzbekistan. The agency also issues special certificates allowing local producers to sell their products abroad.
EU funding has helped upgrade the laboratory with the latest equipment from leading manufacturers to improve the speed and reliability of product testing.
“Laboratory equipment provided by the European Union, such as microscopes, incubators and sterilizers, improves the quality and speed of testing many times,” explained Sevara Khodjaeva, head of the Plant Protection Agency.
The EU’s strategic support for Uzbekistan’s agri-food sector has taken on new meaning at a time of rising global concerns about food prices and food security. As a major agricultural producer, Uzbekistan can serve as an example of how modernizing agricultural practices can help countries address the global challenges facing the agri-food sector.
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