Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 5 December, a practical event was held in Tashkent on the theme "Creating resilience in the agri-food sector of Uzbekistan against the threats of climate change." The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the technical support of the European Union program "Support to agriculture and development of sectoral knowledge" (ASK).

The meeting was attended by representatives of ministries and departments responsible for climate change issues, international organizations, farmers, farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs, as well as the media. According to the program of the event, a round table, a press conference and technical seminars were held.

The meeting was opened by the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Aziz Voitov, who said that changes in air temperature and precipitation, more frequent floods, droughts and other extreme weather events are already affecting crop yields and livestock productivity in many regions of Uzbekistan, and this, in turn, , threatens the stability of providing the population with food. The need for joint action and efforts against these threats was emphasized.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, with the technical support of the European Union’s ASK program, conducted a study of the impact of global warming on various regions of Uzbekistan. Thanks to this study, we can get acquainted with the possible scenarios that may occur in our country due to global warming and its consequences.

It is very important for us to work together, adapt recognized international practices to local conditions, develop a new comprehensive program and a targeted action plan,” Aziz Voitov said in his speech.

Also, the Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan, Ms. Charlotte Adrian, speaking at the opening ceremony of the meeting, cited the ASK program as an example of international technical assistance. In addition, she called on the state and the private sector to cooperate in developing a green economy, promoting the rational use of natural resources and the application of best agricultural practices, as well as encouraging investment in alternative energy sources.

In the practical part of the event, EC ASK Program Manager Adrian Neel presented climate threats and opportunities in the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan using the example of the Problem and Decision Tree. According to the presentation, greenhouse gas emissions, dust storms, soil salinization, which are considered as climate change problems in the country, are in fact not a problem, but effects that create a problem, and the real problem is the lack of a comprehensive national climate change response in the agri-food sector. sector.

The presentation by Adrian Neal was followed by panel discussions and detailed presentations on the research methodology.

As part of the event, the participants presented a forecast of changes that are expected in the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan by 2050 as a result of global warming

At the end of the panel discussion of the event, the launch of the “Interdepartmental working group on adaptation to climate change and mitigation of its consequences in the agri-food sector” under the Coordinating Council for the implementation of the agricultural development strategy of Uzbekistan was announced.

In addition, issues of formation and financing of pilot programs on water resources, animal husbandry and agriculture were discussed. Technical developments will be transferred to the Interdepartmental Technical Working Group for the development of the “Program of National Measures for Adaptation to Climate Change and Mitigation of Its Consequences”.