The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has authorized the second phase of a program targeted at boosting livestock breeding in Uzbekistan, the organization's press service reports.
Technical assistance, international expertise and experience, and $240mn in financing will be provided to the project, including a $150mn soft loan from the International Development Association and a $90mn low-interest loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, both members of the World Bank Group.
Livestock breeding contributes for 13% of Uzbekistan's GDP and almost 50% of its agricultural GDP. The industry also contributes significantly to rural family income and recruits around 27% of all agricultural employees.
Yet, the industry's efficiency remains poor in comparison to neighboring nations, and local manufacturers are unable to supply the domestic demand for animal goods. If there will be no adjustments, the country's milk and meat output will only meet 59% and 52% of domestic demands by 2035, respectively.
The project seeks to boost livestock output, efficiency, and income, enhance livestock farmers' utilization of markets, technology, and finance, establish ecologically and climate-resilient livestock production-market chains, and strengthen food security. The initiative will also help to propagate the One Health idea throughout the country, which considers the link between human, animal, and ecological health.
The initiative will assist in improving the organizational potential of Uzbekistan's Veterinary and Livestock Development Committee, increasing the standard of its services to livestock product manufacturers, and developing a network of state agencies that engage in animal husbandry research and innovation across the country. Furthermore, the initiative will help in improving oversight of the import of animals and livestock products from other countries in order to safeguard public health and maintain food safety.
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