Abu Dhabi Fund for Development to fund joint agro project in Uzbekistan

A new quadripartite collaboration was recently launched to support resource-poor rural communities and develop degraded ecosystems in the Aral Sea region. Launched with funding from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the project will be implemented by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) through its Regional Office for Central Asia and the South Caucasus in Tashkent, in partnership with the Ministry of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan.

The project will specifically target vulnerable communities living in the degraded areas of Karakalpakstan, a republic within Uzbekistan.

According to the state news agency, WAM,  a memorandum of understanding was signed between ADFD, the Ministry of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, and a cooperation agreement was concluded between ADFD and ICBA.

The project aims to directly benefit up to 15,000 farmers and agropastoralists and their households (up to 75,000 people), develop the capacity of up to 150 extension workers, as well as establish or strengthen up to 15 farmers’ cooperatives.

Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, said, “The cooperation with the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) reflects ADFD’s keenness to support scientific research institutions that work towards sustainable development in developing countries.”

Al Suwaidi said the new project is an important step toward improving the sustainability of the food security system in different regions of Karakalpakstan and that the partnership contributes to rapid attainment of self-reliance in food and a strategic stock of crops, as well as job creation.

Running from 2022 to 2026, the project is designed to enhance farming communities’ resilience to climate change and develop their adaptive capacity to land degradation and other unfavourable factors.

This will be achieved through, among other things, the introduction of stress-resilient crops, best practices in crop, soil and water management, and integrated farming systems.

Dr Tarifa Alzaabi, director general of ICBA, said, “We are pleased to extend our thanks to the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development for their constant endeavour to support agricultural development projects, which have the best impact on developing the capabilities of rural communities and improving their quality of life. The centre started working with local partners in Uzbekistan in 2006 to implement a wide range of projects and activities aimed at crop diversification and adaptation to climate change and capacity development.”

As part of the project, ICBA will establish a seed production unit to cater to farmers’ need for quality seeds as the lack of access to diverse climate-resilient crops and their improved seeds is regarded as one of the main constraints on agriculture.

In other news, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy and Saudi Arabia’s leading power generation company, ACWA Power have signed three major energy agreements, valued at $12bn.

Read: ACWA Power, Uzbekistan ink three key energy agreements worth $12bn