CSAM Facilitates Dialogue to Support Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization Strategy of Uzbekistan On 27 and 28 November 2024, approximately 80 participants from 14 countries gathered in Tashkent to share their knowledge and experiences on the modernization and innovations for climate-smart agricultural machinery, identify policies and modalities to catalyze sustainable agricultural mechanization and discuss the strategy for sustainable agricultural mechanization in Uzbekistan. Convened by CSAM and the Scientific Research Institute of Agricultural Mechanization (SRIAM) of the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, the Asia-Uzbekistan Dialogue on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization was held on 27 November as an opportunity to hear perspectives from Uzbekistan and experts in the Asia-Pacific region on key issues for the progress of sustainable agricultural mechanization in Central Asia and beyond. 

The dialogue was opened by Mr. Qodir Ismoilov, Head of the Department of Mechanization and Automation in Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan; Mr. Bahodir Eshchanov, Deputy Director of the National Center for Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS); Mr. Rajabbay Khudaykuliev, Director of the Scientific Research Institute of Agricultural Mechanization; and Ms. Li Yutong, Head of the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization. 

During the dialogue, the speakers shared sustainable agriculture practices in their respective countries and highlighted the role of agricultural mechanization in ensuring the sustainability of the agriculture sector. Specific initiatives to facilitate women’s participation in the agriculture sector and the importance of multistakeholder partnerships were also discussed. Climate-smart agricultural practices such as the development of resource-efficient agricultural machinery, application of digital solutions in the agriculture sectors and machinery applications for reducing crop residue burning were also presented as part of the dialogue. 

On 28 November, a validation workshop for the “Sustainable Agriculture Mechanization Strategy in Uzbekistan” was opened by a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The workshop was organized to share the main findings of the analysis on the status of agricultural mechanization in Uzbekistan with local stakeholders and international participants from CSAM’s network, who actively discussed and shared their perspectives on the topic.

The findings and discussions of the above events are expected to contribute to the development of the “Sustainable Agriculture Mechanization Strategy in Uzbekistan” in 2025.

Participants also had the opportunity to visit the international exhibition for agricultural machinery, horticulture, plant production and animal husbandry at UzExpocenter. The exhibition featured various agricultural machinery, greenhouse horticulture, and irrigation technologies, among other agricultural practices.