A multi-country initiative supporting smallholder farmers in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has concluded the following two years of implementation by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The project focused on promoting sustainable, productive, and climate-resilient agricultural practices to address challenges related to agricultural production, food and nutrition security, and environmental sustainability.
The project was funded through FAO's Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC) mechanism and aimed to strengthen the capacity of smallholder farmers to adopt climate-smart and resource-efficient farming methods.
As per to FAO Agricultural Officer Artur Shamilov, key outcomes included the introduction of climate-smart technologies for priority fruit and vegetable crops, as well as enhanced production and market capacity in the domestic vegetable seed sector. He noted that farmers received practical training in crop production, value chain development, and farm management, while the institutional and technical capacities of national partner organizations were also strengthened.
Agriculture remains a central component of the economies of both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, contributing to employment, livelihoods, and national food security. Within this sector, fruit and vegetable production is identified as a strategic priority in the development of agricultural food systems.
The FAO project, titled “Small farmers as agricultural innovators for resilient agrifood ecosystems,” was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan.
A high-level closing event was held on December 10 in Tashkent, bringing together representatives from government institutions, FAO, international and development organizations, financial institutions, and farmer cooperatives. The event highlighted project results and lessons learned, while also serving as a platform to discuss investment and partnership opportunities aimed at scaling up climate-resilient greenhouse production and horticulture.
The program included an exhibition featuring organic and climate-resilient products produced by project participants. It also presented innovative solutions, initiatives promoting women's participation and leadership, and technologies tested at project demonstration sites.
The closing discussions emphasized the role of smallholder farmers, including women farmers, in supporting food security, enhancing climate resilience, and advancing sustainable agricultural systems in the participating countries.
