In the Turakurgan district of the Namangan region, UNDP organized a seminar for horticultural farms and agrofirms. Participants raised their awareness on the results of introduction of the information system for monitoring, warning and combating pests and plant diseases and benefits of its implementation on the field.

An earlier study facilitated by the UNDP’s ‘Aid for Trade’ project among farmers in the Fergana Valley revealed that in recent years, farmers prefer chemical treatment to prevent diseases and control pests that cause damage to crops, but not always have a positive effect on the environment and human health. In order to promote non-chemical (biological) protection measures, the project established over 100 pheromone traps covering an area of over 20 hectares, as well as two mini meteorological stations enabling farmers to predict pest infestation, spread of diseases of agricultural crops and fruit trees. Their operation is based on analyzing indicators provided by sensors on the amount of precipitation, air and soil temperature, level of air, soil and leaf humidity, wind speed and direction.

Results of the installed meteorological stations and pheromone traps were demonstrated to the seminar’s participants. According to a survey among users of pheromone traps, almost 40% of participants highlighted that they noticed a decrease in the number of pests, 38% reduced the use of chemicals, and over 90% said they would continue to use and promote biological protection methods.

One of the pheromone traps and an electronic pheromone trap, providing opportunity to control pests at a distance, and SMS application with farms database and cultivated crops, with timeline of detected diseases and pests, have been specially coded and designed for the project by young professors of Inha University in Tashkent Jasurbek Khojaev and Sarvar Abdullayev.

Representatives of ‘Namangan Bioservice’ LLC, cooperating with the project for two years in terms of providing residents of the pilot districts with special insects, told about  effectiveness of using gabrobracons, trichograms and gold eyes, not only on large cotton and grain fields, but also for the small horticultural farms. It was interesting for participants to learn that correct and timely use of trichogram can protect plants from 60 types of pests.

The introduction of traps and mini meteorological stations enables every resident of the region to receive SMS alerts with recommendations on how to prevent disease and pests and protect plants, as well as advice on the effective and timely use of agrotechnical measures.

“In recent years, we have begun to pay more attention to increasing yields and ensuring best appearance of products by using achievements of genetic and chemical industry. I like the fact that SMS messages will contain not only warning information, but also names and norms of recommended fertilizers, biological and other techniques of plants protection,” said the quarantine officer Abdurasul Holmirzaev.

Modernization and intensive development of agriculture and concomitant economic growth are the areas of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN member countries.

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UNDP’s ‘Aid for Trade’ project as a national component of the regional ‘Aid for Trade in Central Asia – Phase III’ project aims at increasing income generation, creating jobs and expanding exports.