Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 15 December, a three-day consultations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with the Governments of Central Asia and Azerbaijan on development of mechanism of effective realization of the second stage of the FAO cooperation programme with the Government of Turkey, as well as FAO partnership programme in the sphere of forestry, signed with the Turkish Government, started in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.

The programme is aimed at rendering assistance to the countries of Central Asia, Caucasus and Turkey in the sphere of food security, decrease rural poverty and sustainable forestry resources management. The Turkish Government allocated US$20 million.

The consultations will allow to determine priority countries of Central Asia within the Sustainable Development Goals and harmonize the cooperation programme in line with these priorities.

The consultations also serve as platform for determining opportunities and challenges in the region. The foreign experts will share their experience, ideas and vision on developing efficient programmes on food security in the region.

The participants will discuss climate change, desertification, soil degradation and ways of decreasing their impact to the well-being of the states.