24.02.2015:  

As we get closer to the end of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), we have the opportunity to evaluate what the MDGs have and have not achieved and why, to inform the formulation of the Sustainable development goals (SDGs) for 2030. The world is about to turn the page and its implications to our nations and more specifically food, nutrition, and health, preoccupies the African Food and Nutrition Forum. We believe that better food and nutrition is a sustainable development objective. That is why the 4th AFNF workshop will voice impressions and suggestions of the academia and development program implementers on the SDGs.

Sessions highlighting innovative research, programmatic challenges, agriculture, food safety, climate change, and gender issues will offer a rare, but exciting space for professional, empirically-driven dialogue that encourages experts to interact across disciplinary, institutional, and spatiotemporal boundaries to contribute to the formulation of the SDGs and gauge their implications.

Join us in this exciting opportunity to ensure that the best science is garnered to support the emergence of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Conference topics

·  Improving nutrition and health in Africa: Achievements, challenges, and opportunities of the MDGs

·  Food and Nutrition Security Initiatives, Strategies, and Policies in the post-MDG Era

·  Food and Nutrition Security in the face of climate change

·  Agriculture and food safety

·  Scientific innovation for sustainable food production, improved nutrition, and health

·  Gender-focused muti-sectoral and integrated nutrition strategies

·  Linking scientific evidence to implementation to tackle programmatic challenges of food and nutrition interventions

For further detail about the workshop and to register, please visit our website: www.cfsn-aau.edu.et

You can also email us at: www.afnfsecretariat@gmail.com

14.02.2015:  

The conference will address the issues and potential challenges of the environmentally sound technologies in the field of plant protection. The conference will be organized in the format of plenary, panel and poster sessions, and exhibition about the latest research achievements and ecologically benign technologies in the area of plant protection and quarantine. It is an excellent opportunity to learn about strategies undertaking towards sustainable agriculture in Kazakhstan and to develop fruitful collaboration for future research and innovation projects for novelties in the pest control.

The working languages of the conference will be the Kazakh, English and Russian. The simultaneous translation will be provided for English speakers.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to apply?

Please, fill out the attached application form and send to kazripp(at)gmail.com by 25 May 2015.

Deadlinefor the submission of articles, posters and information about exhibition materials is the May 30, 2015. Organizing committee reserves the rights do not include to the conference program those materials that are irrelevant to the conference topic.

The participation fee is US$100 that includes rent of facilities and equipment, conference package with compendium of articles, airport transfer, coffee breaks and gala-dinner. Money can be paid by cash at registration desk or in advance by bank transfer.

For those, who are willing only to publish their articles in the conference compendium without actual participation the fee is US$30. Then money must be paid in advance by bank transfer before commencement of the conference.

Bank details for the transfer of the registration fee:

"The Kazakh Research Institute for Plant Protection and Quarantine" LLP

Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): 090500225256

Business Identification Number (BIN): 080140006125

AF "BTA Bank", Almaty

Individual Identity Code (IIC): KZ58319A010000458866 (for citizens of Kazakhstan)

USD KZ31319A010000458867 (for foreigners)

Bank Identification Code (BIC): ABKZKZKX

KBE 17

Visa

Visitors to Kazakhstan must obtain a visa from one of the Kazakhstan diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. A letter of invitation for visa application will be provided for participation upon request.

Citizens of the Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the USA, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Malasiya, the UAE, Korea, Japan will be able to enter Kazakhstan on visa-free bases and stay for up 15 to 90 days at a time.

Location, travel cost and accommodations

Conference will be in one of the central hotels of Almaty city with great service and all facilities needed for meeting with reasonable price. We are currently organizing the details of the conference venue and the exact address of the hotel will be notified later on the second information letter.

The hotel bookings will be arranged for international participants by provisional application to be accommodated at the same hotel as conference venue. Accommodation fees should be paid by participants. Please, do remind that accommodation is optional. All necessary information about hotels in Almaty will be provided for self-booking.  

Sightseeing tour attraction

Almaty is one of the most magnificent cities in Central Asia at the foot of glorious breathtaking Tien Shan Mountains. Almaty is a very beautiful city with deep history to learn about. It is the first capital of Independent Kazakhstan and the city where collapse of Soviet Union started. It is currently considered as a financial and cultural center of country. There are a plenty of attracting sights for visitors and guests of Almaty, such as “Chimbulak” high mountain ski resort, “Kok Tobe” recreation area that is the best ice rink in the world, “Medeo” ice-skating stadium, numerous parks, large collection of museums, art galleries, theaters, restaurants, which are a great option for business and leisure travelers. We would like to inform you about the availability of the sightseeing tour while your visit to Almaty. You can join the tour or plan your own adventure in Almaty by following the helpful links down below:

• http://aboutkazakhstan.com/blog/cities/the-beautiful-sights-of-almaty/
• http://www.almaty-info.net/388
• http://aboutkazakhstan.com/almaty-city

We believe that you will enjoy sightseeing tour provided by professional tourist agency with experienced guides.

The sightseeing tour includes following attractions:

 1)  The tour starts with one of the oldest parks in the city - park of 28-guardsmen, where you will see one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world - Holy Ascension Cathedral, and visit the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame, dedicated to the memory of fighters who died for the freedom and independence of the country;

 2)  The next attraction is Medeo, where you will visit mudflow dam that protects the city from the devastating floods. From the top of the dam (1733 meters above sea level), you will see the world's largest high-altitude ice rink Medeo, and admire magical mountain scenery;

 3) After Medeo tour will continue on Koktobe, the highest TV tower in the world (if you count from sea level), which is visible from anywhere in the city. Koktobe has a special viewpoint, from which you can see magnificent panorama of the city. In addition, in Koktobe you can find the monument for “The Beatles”, single monument for popular British group in whole CIS countries.

         We believe that you will enjoy sightseeing tour and love Almaty. Unfortunately, we have very limited funds so we are not able to cover expenses related with sightseeing. All participant willing to see city attractions will pay for the tour from their own pockets. The cost varies approximately from $33 to $47 depending on the number of participants. Please inform us in advance if you would like to join the sightseeing tour.  

Layout requirements for papers or extended abstract

1. Research paper (extended abstract) no more than five (5) pages (including references) in electronic version.2. Text in the Word Document, font «Times New Roman», size 12, line spacing - 1.0, page setup: the right margin - 1.0 cm, the left, top and bottom margins - 2.0 cm.3. Title of the paper - in capital letters, aligned to the center. Under the title in one space - the initials and surname (s) of the author (s), the name of the organization, city, country, and e-mail address.4. No more than three illustrations (e.g. tables, figures, diagram.) Table and visual material presented in the text. Tables must have titles and serial numbers.5. Abbreviations (the Latin names of species, drugs, chemicals) should be used consistently and must be expand somewhere in the main body of the text.6. No more than five references should be listed in numerical order as in the text.7. Text of the submitted paper will not be content/language edited and will be printed as it is.8. Content of the paper is sole responsibility of the author(s).9. Organizing committee can reject papers that do not correspond to the conference format and of poor quality.

The example of the paper design

PLANT PROTECTION IN KAZAKHSTAN

Aibek D.A.

The Kazakh Research Institute for Plant Protection and Quarantine,

Almaty, Kazakhstan, aibek(at)mail.ru

Body of the main text…

Contact information

Inquiries for application, article/poster submission, about bank details for the transfer of the registration fee and other information related to participation at the conference should be sent to email: kazripp(at)gmail.com 

Contact phone numbers:

+7 (727) 2467366   

THE KAZAKH RESEARCH INSTITUTE

FOR PLANT PROTECTION AND QUARANTINE

International Scientific Conference

“Innovative and environmentally friendly technologies in plant protection”

24-25 September, Almaty, Kazakhstan 

REGISTRATION FORM

3.02.2015:  

Development of Two Professional Degree (Masters Level) Programs on Food Security (Food Security and Agro-food Management and Land and Water Resource Management for Food Security) and Four Short-term Courses on Food Security  

Description of the Assignment

To improve food security and catalyze agricultural development in the Eurasian Region, the Government of the Russian Federation has established the Eurasian Center for Food Security (ECFS) under the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). The ECFS is expected to become an internationally recognized agricultural research center that will contribute towards solving food security issues in Eurasia and globally. The World Bank has been requested to provide technical assistance to the Russian Federation’s efforts to enhance the Center’s capacity and to carry out mutually agreed work in support of initial operations of the ECFS through a Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) arrangement.

One of the key knowledge management components within the RAS is the development of a comprehensive learning program on Food Security in the Eurasian region, including establishment of the first-in-the-region Master’s level Programs in Land and Water Resource Management for Food Security and in Food Security and Agro-food Management and selected short-term courses on the related subjects. The Programs will be implemented by the Moscow State University and will be taught using an e- learning format. The Master’s Programs are targeted to students from the Eurasian region with the aim to equip the participating students with appropriate knowledge and tools for careers in the public, private and non-profit sectors related to agribusiness and natural resources management and food security. The short-term courses’ target audience includes food security professionals and policy makers, among others, in the Eurasian region.

For this reason, the World Bank plans to recruit a qualified vendor to develop content and instructional materials for on-line instruction of the two international level graduate degree (Master’s) programs and to adapt content and material for on-line instruction from the Master’s Programs for the four short-term courses.

Goal and objectives of the assignment

The goal of the assignment is to (i) design and develop two e-learning formatted international level graduate degree (Master’s) programs on Food Security in Eurasia; and (ii) as a separate package, (a) design and develop four short-term e-learning courses on food security and (iii) deliver each of the 4 short-term courses in Russian at least once. The development of the two degree programs and the four short term courses includes the overall curriculum design, the design and development of the academic content as well as the development of instructional materials for teaching staff, students and the technical IT team. Delivery of the four short-term courses includes advertising, registration and instruction.  Tasks of the assignment will include:

1. Assessment of international best practices in the systematic design and development of e-learning Master’s programs, especially on similar food security and related topics. This will include the course goal, description, learning objectives, and syllabus, which will contain the entire course agenda, activities, assignments, readings, and other relevant elements that conform to best practices in instructional design.

2. Development of the content and instructional materials for the two Master’s degree programs, namely the Food Security and Agrofood Management program and the Land and Water Resources Management for Food Security program. All courses should be developed to be facilitated through Moodle.

3. Development of content and instructional materials for the four short-term courses, namely the Fundamentals of Food Security; Conducting Food Security Assessments; Fundamentals of Land Resources Management for Food Security; and Economic and Environmental Assessment of Lands. All courses (and therefore e-learning course sites) should be developed to be facilitated through Moodle. It is envisioned that the instructional time for the short courses will be between 12 – 20 hours and each course will be offered over a period of 2 to 4 calendar weeks in 4 units.

4. One-time delivery of the four short courses in Russian. The vendor can subcontract the instruction and delivery (in Russian) of the four short-term courses. Instructors must be experienced both in e-learning facilitation and the content being taught. It is expected that each of the short courses will be delivered to between 15-25 participants from the Eurasian region. The courses will be delivered as ECFS/MSU courses through ECFS’s e-learning learning platform. The successful participants will receive the certificate of MSU.

Expected duration of the services will be from 10 to 12 months.

Key requirements for the programs will include, but not be limited to:

1) The Master’s programs should correspond with the Russian state requirements for Master’s level programs, adhere to the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) standards, and meet the MSU requirements for teaching the Distance Learning programs

2) All materials, the content of the programs and courses as well as the instructional material, should be prepared both in Russian and English.

3) The consultant is expected to adhere to quality course design standards (Based on Quality Matters Rubric for Higher Education, 2011 – 2013 edition).

4) The Master’s programs need to build comprehensive understanding, knowledge and skills in the fields of (a) food security and agribusiness management, and (b) food security, agriculture and land and water resources management.

5) The programs are to be based on the best international practices in the implementation of similar programs and should be developed to reflect the latest knowledge and experience in these fields.

6) The programs should largely focus on the specifics of the Eurasian region covering practical experience, socio-economical features and using statistical data (where appropriate) from  the Russian Federation, Central Asia and the Caucuses as well as provide specific solutions to the challenges in the region.

7) The instructional methodologies need to be pedagogically solid and approved and follow the approach of innovative and interactive learning.

8) Curriculums under both master’s programs should include thesis preparation and practical training (research and teaching) as per MSU requirements.

9) The short-term courses are to be developed in order to enhance overall understanding as well as specific knowledge of the food security issues among interested academia, policy makers, and practitioners and to make training in food security more accessible to a broader audience. In addition to these above mentioned four courses, a course on Legal and Policy Aspects of Water Resources Management is currently under preparation. The contractor is to ensure that the content of the five short courses comprises a coherent program without duplication and overlap.

Consultant qualification and selection criteria

The World Bank invites eligible universities, research institutions, or consortia to indicate their interest in providing the services for this assignment. Interested institutions or/and consultants may submit expressions of interest for the aforementioned service; however, they must provide information on their experience indicating that they are qualified to provide the services and shall meet the below requirements. Previous experience in the delivery of undergraduate and graduate programs for an international partner would be considered as an advantage.

The eligibility requirement for university/research center/consortia to participate in the partnership for this assignment includes:

 Existence of accredited (graduate) programs in similar disciplines

 Track record of development of distance learning programs for delivery by Moodle

 Qualifications of the Key Personnel involved in the Vendor’s proposal

 Proven experience in capacity development and curriculum reviewing

 Assigned team must include at least one Russian-speaking expert per program who has the following competencies: (a) sound knowledge of the Russian educational system; (b) technical background in the subject area; (c) excellent reading, writing, and speaking skills in Russian. Broader participation of Russian (-speaking) experts on the vendor team is highly desirable

The selection of the Vendor will be performed in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, January 2011 (revised July 2014) and be based on the quality of the proposal presented for the selection committee that will rate the proposals according to information about the available staff competencies, existing record of international outreach of the participating university/research center, existing experience of research and teaching within the areas of agrofood management and land and water resources management in the context of food security. The cost of the proposal will also be taken into account and will account for 20 (twenty) percent of the final evaluation.

Interested foreign institutions and consultants may obtain further information and submit their proposals at the web-link provided below.

Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically by 1 March 2015. A short-list of qualified institutions or/and consultants will be prepared from the evaluation of qualifications of interested organizations, which will be invited to submit proposals based on the Request for Proposal (RFP) document to be provided by the World Bank.

www.devbusiness.com/ProjectViewer.aspx

Reference number: WB399-01/15

24.01.2015:  

As part of this effort, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today is conducting a two-day workshop for Hamkorbank’s representatives. The event focuses on practical aspects of agri-leasing operations and includes sessions on financial analysis of agri-leasing contracts and risks associated with agri-leasing deals.

Agriculture plays an important role in Uzbekistan’s economy, where half of the population lives in rural areas and depends on farming or food production for their livelihoods. Despite the significant financing needs of farmers and agri-businesses, the financial sector lacks the necessary skills and tools to serve this sizable market.

Olmahon Turajonova, Chair of the Board of Hamkorbank, said: "We are delighted with our long-running cooperation with IFC which helped the bank considerably increase its portfolio of agricultural loans. We will continue our efforts to expand and diversify the range of services to farmers and agri-businesses in Uzbekistan."

"The training program aims to help Hamkorbank to expand its agri-business portfolio by including and strengthening agri-leasing operations," said Zafar Khashimov, IFC Country Officer. "Through supporting such banks as Hamkorbank, IFC helps spur access to finance for farmers and businesses involved in the agricultural sector."

This initiative is part of the joint World Bank-IFC Finance & Markets Global Practice’s Central Asia Agri-finance Project, which aims to develop a set of agri-financing tools and training programs for financial institutions, aggregators, and farmers in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The project is supported by funds from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance.

The Finance & Markets Global Practice aims to help countries build deep, diversified, inclusive, efficient and stable financial systems which are essential to promoting economic growth and reducing poverty and increasing shared prosperity. The practice is committed to delivering public and private sector tailored solutions to development challenges by leveraging the whole range of the Bank Group's financial, knowledge/advisory and convening services for clients. In doing so, the practice not only partners with the broader World Bank finance team (IFC, WB, MIGA and WB/IFC Treasuries) but also acts as an enabler for all of the other GPs and Cross-Cutting Groups.

As a joint World Bank-IFC practice, the Finance & Markets Practice brings together the World Bank's knowledge, finance (loans, credits, guarantees, risk management products), and convening services, and IFC advisory at the industry and public sector level into a single suite of development solutions for our clients and the global community to support reaching the twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity.

Today, this suite of financial solutions is in excess of USUS$10 billion in current and pipeline engagement commitments. The Global Practice has an ongoing portfolio of about 400 knowledge activities (with costs up to US$73 million) and 98 IFC advisory services (valued at US$136 million).

source: www.uzdaily.com

10.12.2014:  

The workshop included presentations of representatives of the CGIAR Centers and department programs in the following areas:

- Overview of activities of the International center for agricultural research in the dry areas (ICARDA);

- Overview of the activities of the International Institute for water resources management;

- Overview of activities of the International center for potato;

- Overview of activities of the Bioversity International;

- Overview of activities-the world vegetable center (AVRDC);

- Implementation of resource-saving technologies in Uzbekistan;

- Improved crop varieties in the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus;

- Innovation platform - a new approach in the development of markets and the transfer of new technologies in agriculture;

- Improving the quality of life in rural areas through sustainable land management: dissemination of knowledge within the CACILM project in Central Asia;

- Further areas of cooperation in the field of agricultural science.

The seminar attended by the representatives of international organizations for agricultural research ICARDA, the international Institute for water management (IWMI), international center for potato (CIP), Bioversity International, the world vegetable center (AVRDC), the Association agricultural research organizations in Central Asia and South Caucasus (CACAARI), Ministry of agriculture and water of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Uzbek scientific production center of agriculture, research institutes and Tashkent State Agrarian University.

(All presentations http://www.agriculture.uz/en.php?/publications/sections/18 )

4.12.2014:  

December 3, 2014 in Tashkent State Agrarian University on the basis of the information and consultation center held a training  seminar on modern farming  techniques.
The lecturers of the seminar were Israeli experts - Boris Boardman and Nissim Sroussi.
The seminar heard presentations on the theme "Innovative solutions to the problems of growing vegetables indoors", "Modern greenhouses and their constructive and technological features," " How do I choose land For Vegetables Cropping?"
During the training workshop were consulted and recommendations on issues related to modern methods of agriculture.
The training seminar attended by experts  in the field of fruit growing, vegetable growing, representatives of the Council of farmers Tashkent region, farm leaders, heads of agricultural firms, teachers and students of the Faculty of Horticulture, Viticulture, Tashkent State Agrarian University.

7.11.2014:  

In view of this challenge, Central Asia and the Caucasus Association of Agricultural Research Institutes (CACAARI) and Central Asia and the Caucasus Forum for Rural Advisory Services (CAC-FRAS), a still informal regional platform of the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services(GFRAS), have decided to join efforts and undertake joint actions towards strengthening Rural Advisory Service Systems in the region. The goals are to learn from each other, develop common approaches, and coordinate efforts to strengthen agricultural innovation systems in the region.

From 17 to 21 November 2014, CACAARI and CAC-FRAS, in collaboration with the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR),Modernising Extension and Advisory Services (MEAS), International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and other partners, will organize a joint Regional Conference on Rural Advisory Services in the Bishkek region of the Kyrgyz Republic.

9.09.2014:  

“This is truly a great honor,” said Graziano da Silva. “The NAAS and IARI have a rich history of contributing to agricultural development, responding to the challenges of yesterday and today, and bridging the academic world and concrete needs.

Graziano da Silva is only the 15^th person to receive an IARI Doctor Honoris Causa in more than half a century, joining the ranks of Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug and MS Swaminathan, who were instrumental in launching the Green Revolution in India in the late 1960s.

Zero Hunger

The awards were made in recognition of Graziano da Silva's commitment and contribution to improving food security in Brazil through the Zero Hunger program. 

“Zero Hunger was Brazil´s first step towards a new development model centered on social inclusion,” explained Graziano da Silva. 

By implementing a comprehensive set of actions that included strengthening social protection, increasing support to family farming and promoting social participation, Zero Hunger was the starting point of an effort that has since helped some 36 million Brazilians to overcome extreme poverty and hunger.

In 2012, Graziano da Silva brought this experience to the global stage when he took up office as FAO's Director-General.

In his acceptance speech, he noted that while FAO´s vision has remained the same since its founding, the obstacles that must be overcome to ensure food security and freedom from want are different today. FAO is adapting to respond to today´s challenges, focusing its work, opening up to partnerships and adopting a cross-cutting and holistic approach to help countries achieve food security and sustainable development.

“Simply producing more food is not enough,” Graziano da Silva said. “We need to increase production, sustainably, and ensure access for all. The solutions we need today might be different than those of decades ago, but to respond to these multiple and interconnected challenges we need to be as innovative as the Green Revolution was,” he added.

FAO and India – sharing knowledge, working together

During the official visit the FAO head is scheduled to meet with senior government representatives, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Graziano da Silva pointed out that India has expertise, knowledge and capacity that can help advance global efforts against hunger. The country has already established state-of-the-art science and technology institutes and its agricultural research facilities attract researchers from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The FAO Director-General also cited the Green Revolution and India´s cooperative movement. “India can rightly claim to have the largest network of cooperatives in the world. For example, organizing poor farmers into cooperatives is a way to give them voice, power and improve their access to training, credit and markets,” he said.

Source: http://www.fao.org

9.09.2014:  

Key features and principles of the FFS approach – TRUE or FALSE?

The FFS approach allows farmers to learn through testing changes in a controlled, group-based environment

TRUE:  Discovery-based learning is an essential part of the FFS as it helps participants to develop a feeling of ownership and to gain the confidence that they are able to reproduce the activities and results on their own.

In FFS, the classroom is the learning ground

FALSE: The field, herd or the landscape is the main learning ground, around which FFS activities are organized. Farmers learn directly from what they observe, collect and experience in their surroundings. They produce their own learning materials (drawings, etc.) based on their observations and experiences.

Trainers decide the FFS curriculum and what is relevant for the farmers to learn

FALSE: It is the farmers who decide what is relevant to them and what they want the FFS to address in their curriculum. This ensures that the information is relevant and tailored to the participants’ actual needs.

FFS training is based on the natural cycle of the study subject

TRUE: This allows farmers to discuss and observe aspects in the field in parallel with what is going on in their own fields, such as learning about weeding which takes place during weeding time.

In FFS the focus is on assimilating information regarding new technology options

FALSE: In FFS the focus is on developing skills and competences rather than assimilating information regarding new technology options. It refers to understanding the basic science behind various aspects of the agro ecosystem to enable farmers to carry out their own innovation process, i.e. understand the ‘why‘ behind the ‘how‘.

To succeed with FFS practices, learners have to forget their way of doing things

FALSE: The basic assumption of FFS is that learning is always rooted in prior experience, which is unique to each person, and that any attempt to promote new learning must take into account experience in some way.

Innovation and experimentation are vital components of the FFS process

TRUE:  Innovation and experimentation offer opportunities for learning and for building capacity among farmers to adapt continually and improve the way they manage their resources. Group managed trials, whether crop – or livestock-based form the nucleus of the FFS learning because the site of the trials usually becomes the meeting point and learning space of the group.

All FFS follow the same systematic training process

TRUE:  The cornerstone is to observe and analyze the field experimental activities. Every FFS includes at least three activities: agro-ecosystem analysis (AESA), a ‘group dynamic activity’ and a ‘topic of the day.’ The group dynamic activity leads towards team building and organizing skills while the ‘topic of the day’ usually includes technical information. It normally relates to a farming-related topic but could also include any other subject of concern to the group members. 

Source: http://www.fao.org

29.08.2014:  

The loans were allocated to meet demand of population in food products, saturation of internal market with local food products and financial support of the enterprise.

According to the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, the commercial banks issued 171.9 billion soums to finance projects on equipment of production capacities with modern equipment.

Another 775.4 billion soums were issued to purchase necessary raw materials. The banks allotted 24.5 billion soums to farmers and landowners to purchase drip irrigation systems and creation of greenhouses.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan said that the commercial banks directed 4 trillion soums to enterprises, which produce food products, in last five years.

It is worth to mention that Uzbekistan produces 16 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables each year. The country exports agriculture products to 80 countries.

Source: http://www.uzdaily.com