LocationsHow to help farmers adapt to climate change in Uzbekistan?
October 5, 2022
On September 27, 2022, UNDP organized a workshop to exchange experience with representatives from the SATREPS project on climate change issues in Uzbekistan. Experts from UNDP, Uzhydromet, NIGMI, and Japanese experts representing the SATREPS project in Uzbekistan took part in the event.
Adaptation is a high priority for the country as the warming trends observed are twice as fast as the global average and result in water stress, increasing climate aridity, and more frequent extreme weather events. This poses serious challenges to human security, including economic, food and environmental risks. Agriculture, which is an important sector for rural employment, is climate-sensitive and vulnerable.
Professor Kenji Tanaka of Kyoto University shared his experience implementing the BLUE project in Uzbekistan to reduce soil salinity. This project also includes a satellite meteorology component, which aids in the prediction of sandstorms and the timing of high solar radiation, as well as the measurement of temperature and soil moisture.
In his presentation, Sardor Kodirov, Project Manager of the UNDP and Uzhydromet project "Climate resilient livelihoods of horticultural producers in Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan," funded by the Government of Japan, discussed the planned work to install agro-meteo stations in the Ferghana Valley.
Farmers with varying levels of potential, he claims, do not always have access to agrometeorological information. Most people see this information as numbers. The ability to analyse agrometeorological data, on the other hand, allows for precise agrotechnical work. One of the project's goals is to find solutions that will give farmers access to agrometeorological information and recommendations for agrotechnical work based on data from agro-meteo stations.
During the event, the UNDP project "Climate Change and Resilience in Central Asia," which is funded by the European Union, also gave a presentation. The event participants were informed about the project's efforts to ensure the Fergana Valley's stability and resilience to climate change in the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
During the discussion, Uzhydromet representatives discussed their work providing farmers with agrometeorological information, as well as the challenges they face.
The meeting served as a useful platform for bringing together representatives from academia, the public sector, and international organisations involved in climate change adaptation in Uzbekistan. Participants were able to share their experiences and receive advice on how to resolve difficult situations, as well as identify opportunities for future collaborations.
The event was organized by the UNDP and Uzhydromet project “Climate resilient livelihoods of horticultural producers in Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan,” which is funded by the Government of Japan.
