The workshop is a continuation of a series of measures to improve skills of farmers and dehkans within the framework of the joint project of the United Nations Development Programme, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Israel Agency for International Development Cooperation MASHAV “Support to Sustainable Development of the Livestock Sector in Uzbekistan”.

Efficient use of means of protection from extreme temperatures, which is especially important in hot summer includes a range of cooling systems – using natural ventilation and artificial ventilation, cold water showering, providing sufficient drinking water to cows. "The cow, being an animal of mainly northern origin, easily tolerates the winter in Uzbekistan, at the same time, she suffers greatly during the hot summer days, spends a lot of energy to maintain normal body temperature, respectively, it is followed by decreases in milk production and even fertility of cows. On the other hand, maintaining high productivity enables to keep smaller number of cows, thus reducing greenhouse gases by cows and damage made to the environment"- said Abdumalik Kertaev, project pilot area coordinator.

In the second part of the seminar Aytuar Tursunov, the manager of "Jamol" livestock farm, shared his own practical experience of crop and seed rotation. This is one of the project pilot farms, which is receiving consultative support from the project and for the third year successfully using crop rotation, alternating between alfalfa, corn, triticale (forage crop, obtained by crossing wheat and rye) and other crops. "The introduction of crop rotation, together with careful selection of seeds enables to get two crops per year from a plot of land, solves the need for livestock feed.

Moreover, forage crop rotations help to maintain soil fertility, "- said A. Tursunov. District women expressed particular interest to the seminar topics. The project has identified learning needs of women and based on the request of the teachers' union activist women, launched a series of trainings covering livestock care, management, feeding, increasing dairy production specially for women. "I am not a farmer and we keep only one cow in the household, but still these topics are of great interest to me.

Seminars are intended for professionals, so we asked seminar organizers to conduct a separate training for us, nonprofessionals a simple, accessible language "- said Nargiza Tillabayeva, training participant. The project is planning to hold training courses for women during the year. Participation in the trainings raises awareness of women who continue to disseminate the acquired knowledge in their families and the community. Such seminars are designed to optimize livestock production in the country through avoiding losses associated with climatic conditions, maintaining and improve soil fertility, and supporting creation of a strong feed base and thus to improve living standards of rural residents, for whom livestock is an important source of income and food. Livestock breeders, specialists and smallholders took part in the seminar.