Preparation for the VI World Nomadic Games Discussed in Bishkek

A meeting took place in Minsk between the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Academician Shavkat Ayupov, and the Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Karanik. This meeting was held at the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus and was organized as part of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the Republic of Belarus.

Discussion of Cooperation Areas

During the negotiations, the parties discussed the current state and prospects for interaction between the scientific academies of the two countries. Issues were outlined regarding the development of fundamental and applied research, as well as the commercialization of innovations in key areas such as mathematics, nuclear physics, chemistry, materials science, biotechnology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, agreements were reached on expanding ties between scientific centers, launching exchanges of young scientists, and regularly holding joint scientific events.

Signing of a Memorandum

Within the framework of the high-level visit between the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus, a Memorandum on Scientific and Technical Cooperation was signed. The parties agreed to take concrete steps to activate practical work in the areas specified in the memorandum, create joint scientific programs and laboratories, jointly implement innovative developments, and expand cooperation within international scientific grants.

Strategic Partnership

At the conclusion of the meeting, it was particularly emphasized that science and innovation are an important direction of the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Belarus. Both sides declared their readiness to consistently develop mutually beneficial scientific cooperation, combine scientific potential, and support joint initiatives aimed at creating modern technologies. It was also decided to form a joint working group and develop a practical 'Roadmap' for cooperation.

Reforms aimed at developing private entrepreneurship, supporting family businesses, and increasing women's economic activity in the country are showing tangible results. Even in peripheral areas of the country, small initiatives contribute to creating new jobs, forming stable sources of income, and growing local production.

Example of a successful business

Nafisa Shodiyeva, an entrepreneur from the village of Sharq in the Tomdi district, is an example of such proactive women. She organized a workshop for producing beds and mattresses on her farm and runs it effectively.

Production processes and market

At this small production facility, processes for manufacturing, processing, and packaging products have been established. As a result, local goods meet the needs of the population and are supplied to the domestic market in high quality.

Support for female entrepreneurship

According to N. Shodiyeva, in recent years, financial and institutional opportunities to support female entrepreneurship and implement their business ideas in the country have expanded. She noted that she utilized these opportunities to open a production workshop in her family. Now she not only earns income but also provides permanent employment for several women included in the 'Women's Register'. These women gain experience and skills while working and contribute to the economic stability of their families.

Success through initiative

Nafisa Shodiyeva emphasizes that achieving significant results does not require owning a large enterprise. The most important things are initiative, diligence, and the skillful use of available opportunities. Thanks to the activities of such dedicated entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurship is developing in the Tomdi district, ensuring employment for the population and strengthening the local economy.

As part of the project, which is being implemented in cooperation between the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment and the European Union, the program 'Strengthening the Economic Potential and Efficiency of Farms and Landowners in Uzbekistan' is being carried out. The main goal of this initiative is to promote the development of a sustainable, market-oriented, and inclusive food production system.

Goals and Objectives of the Project

The project aims to increase the income of landowners and farms, expand employment and income opportunities in rural areas, and strengthen food security. Dil'dor Otazhonov, Consultant at the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment on agricultural product export issues, notes that the experience of European countries shows that cooperatives allow farms and products produced on land to achieve real competitiveness in external markets.

Current State of Agriculture

This is particularly relevant because currently over 5.2 million families in Uzbekistan grow agricultural products on their own land, as well as on land allocated to the population, covering a total area of 220 thousand hectares. However, most of them operate on small plots and face certain difficulties in processing, storing, packaging, and exporting products, which limits their ability to earn high income.

Advantages of Cooperation

Uniting several small farms into one cooperative gives them the opportunity to jointly use necessary machinery, warehouse facilities, logistics, and other resources. This creates a favorable environment for export. In personal experience, selling a large batch of products is significantly easier than selling a small volume from a single farm. Furthermore, cooperatives are easier to attract loans and subsidies because banks and funds prefer to work with stable cooperatives rather than individual farms.

Importance of Knowledge Exchange

Another important aspect is knowledge exchange: landowners and farmers within the cooperative study effective methods from each other and adopt modern agricultural technologies more quickly. It is assumed that with the development of the cooperative system in the regions, the export income of the participating farms could increase by at least 25 percent. The project, implemented by the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment together with the European Union, lays the foundation for the systematic development of this area in the regions.

Project Implementation Mechanisms

Within the framework of the project, the legal and practical literacy of landowners and farmers is increased, training sessions on modern agricultural technologies, product processing and packaging methods, and ways to enter the export market are organized. In the first stage, landowners and farmers who expressed a desire to form 30 cooperatives in Tashkent region participate in educational and practical seminars. There they are provided with the necessary knowledge and skills on creating and managing cooperatives, attracting financial resources, and effectively using logistical and marketing opportunities.

Results and Support

Thanks to this, farms and landowners gain the opportunity to integrate their products into the value chain, reduce costs, and increase market competitiveness. As a result of the project, new jobs will be created for the population in rural areas, stable sources of income will be formed, and food security will be strengthened. The Law 'On Agricultural Cooperative' will also play a regulatory role in this process. The project will ensure the effective participation of citizens without employment in agriculture in these processes and increase their awareness of current regulatory legal documentation.

Financing and Timeline

During the implementation of the program, mentorship, training trips to Latvia, and start-up grants are provided. The practical experience gained will be summarized in a guide on cooperative development. The duration of the project is 3 years, and 2,617,545 euros will be allocated to it. The Republic of Latvia, through the Central Agency for Finance and Contracts (CFCA) and the Center for Agricultural Consulting and Training (LLKC), conducts technical activities such as training landowners and farmers, developing and supporting cooperatives, mentorship, training trips, and applying European experience in agricultural consulting and cooperative management.

Activity Schedule

Starting from July 2026, educational and practical seminars involving agricultural producers will begin in the regions of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Andijan. From July 8, 2026, the project team will start working in the Tashkent region, where practical seminars will be organized on agricultural production, problems faced by farmers, cooperation opportunities, exports, storage and processing of products, use of common resources, and cost reduction. In July-August of this year, the project will continue in the Samarkand and Andijan regions. Based on these works, the project team will determine the most relevant needs and practical opportunities for agricultural producers in each region to develop targeted support measures in subsequent stages.