The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently concluded its groundbreaking project, "Preparing the grounds for the digital transformation of agriculture," in Uzbekistan, marking a significant milestone in the nation's journey toward agricultural innovation and digitalization. The final workshop, held in Tashkent on December 12, saw the convergence of national and international stakeholders to share insights and recommendations gleaned from the initiative, National Information Agency of Uzbekistan reported.
The FAO implemented this technical cooperation project in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, aiming to overcome challenges impeding innovation and digitalization in the agri-food sector. The initiative focused on fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among various stakeholders in the Fergana Valley, involving farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, and agricultural advisory services at both national and decentralized levels.
Aligned with the Presidential Decrees "Digital Uzbekistan-2030" and on further improvement of knowledge system and innovation and the provision of modern services in agriculture, signed in 2020 and 2021, the FAO's efforts contributed to the transformation of economically, environmentally sustainable, and inclusive agri-food systems.
Sherzod Umarov, FAO Assistant Representative in Uzbekistan, emphasized that while innovation and digitalization are pivotal, they must be accompanied by participatory approaches, awareness raising, and support for smallholder farmers.
A major outcome of the project is the collaborative development of the National Digital Agriculture Programme. The strategic framework, designed with input from diverse stakeholders, was presented during the workshop, where participants engaged in constructive dialogue, providing valuable feedback and recommendations.
Daniela Di Gianantonio, FAO Digital Agriculture Team Leader, praised Uzbekistan's strides in digitalizing e-Government systems for agriculture, noting that the National Digital Agriculture Programme serves as a strategic guide to transform the agrifood sector into a modern, competitive, sustainable, and resilient industry.
On the innovation front, the project led to the operationalization of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS), forming regional coordination groups and innovation policy labs in the Fergana Valley. Nevena Alexandrova-Stefanova, FAO Agricultural Extension Officer, highlighted the success of policy labs in empowering women to participate in AKIS and exploring the relationship between agricultural digitalization and AKIS in Fergana Valley.
The project also facilitated the creation and scaling up of innovations impacting agri-food systems, including new services, tools, and approaches to empower rural households. Notably, the initiative prioritized the inclusion of rural communities, youth, women, and elders at the field level, with specific living labs organized to engage and empower rural women, who constitute a significant portion of the agricultural labor force.
Sophie Treinen, FAO Communication for Development Officer and Coordinator of the project, emphasized the importance of communication in development. The project leveraged the popularity of Telegram among farmers in rural areas, organizing online training workshops on participatory video to enhance knowledge sharing. To ensure a lasting impact, a participatory video guide in Uzbek and a self-learning platform were prepared.
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