As part of his official visit to the Italian Republic, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan met with Qu Dongyu, the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan reported. The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the renowned Kazakh Aport, a variety of apples, as part of the FAO's "One Country, One Priority Product" (OCOP) program.

"Kazakhstan is widely known as the birthplace of apples. Aport apples, grown in the vicinity of Almaty, are distinguished by their large size, wonderful smell, and juiciness," President Tokayev, speaking about the Aport apples, stated.

He further shared the cultural significance, mentioning that "Almaty," translated from Kazakh, means "place of abundance of apples."

The president expressed hope that the FAO, under the leadership of Director General Qu Dongyu, would support Kazakhstan's initiative to promote Aport apples in international markets. The Aport variety has a rich history in Kazakhstan, facing challenges in the past but witnessing a revival through dedicated scientific research.

In 1970, there were 3.8 mn Aporta trees in Kazakhstan, dwindling to 1.4 mn by 1984. However, efforts by the Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit Growing and Viticulture led to the creation of a collection of 115 forms and clones of the Aport variety by 2000. Scientific research in 2012 focused on the revival and rejuvenation of the variety, culminating in the successful cultivation of large fruits in an experimental Aporta garden in 2023.

Accompanying President Tokayev's presentation were young PhD scientists, Sagi Sultanbekov and Balnur Kabylbekova, who provided insights to Italian journalists and meeting participants about the distinctive qualities of Kazakh apples.

The FAO's OCOP program, launched in September 2021, aims to promote the sustainable development of high-value agricultural products globally. It focuses on supporting the development of inclusive and sustainable value chains for unique products associated with specific geographic regions, agricultural practices, and cultural heritage.

The OCOP program's objectives include facilitating sustainable and inclusive value chains, supporting members through the implementation of Country Programming Frameworks, strengthening the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031, and contributing to the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.

Kazakhstan is not alone in participating in the OCOP initiative. Other countries, such as Turkey with figs, Moldova with table grapes, and Uzbekistan with cherries, have also showcased their distinctive agricultural products.

Uzbekistan with Cherries

Uzbekistan, in particular, stands out as a leading sweet cherry producer, with optimal agro-ecological conditions favoring cultivation with minimal use of chemicals. The government of Uzbekistan, as part of the OCOP initiative, selected sweet cherries as a special agricultural product to be promoted.

The FAO's OCOP initiative, with Uzbekistan as one of the first five demonstration countries, signifies a global effort to promote sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly food systems. As nations unite to optimize the production, processing, storage, and marketing of unique agricultural products, the OCOP program aims to minimize environmental and social impacts while maximizing benefits for farmers and value chain actors.

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