On April 25 the European Union presented €6 million ($6.4 million) to the Uzbek government to support the country’s National Food Security and Healthy Nutrition Strategy. Alongside the grant the EU has also provided funds to help the Ministry of Agriculture to carry out its planning reforms.
Further funding of €20 million ($21.4 million) will be issued later this year and next, in support of Uzbekistan’s National Agriculture Development Strategy for 2020-2030.
The overall objective is the establishment of more market-orientated and sustainable agriculture and food sectors, and subsequently, the creation of more jobs and better access to safe and nutritious food for people in Uzbekistan.
“The agri-food sector is critical for Uzbekistan’s economy and is a major source of employment,” commented the EU’s ambassador to Uzbekistan Charlotte Adriaen. “Family-run or ‘dekhan’ farms produce most of the meat and vegetables consumed by Uzbek citizens. Our focus is therefore on those reforms that enable these farms to prosper, adapt to a changing climate, protect the environment, produce healthy food, and become part of local and global value chains. The grant funding together with other European Union initiatives such as GSP+ will also help to boost exports to the EU.”
The European Union is Uzbekistan’s main funder of developments in the agriculture and food sectors. Between 2020-2023 it provided grants totaling €32.5 million ($35 million).
