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GOPA AFC‘s project „German-Kazakh Agricultural Political Dialogue“, funded by the German Ministry of Agriculture and Food, initiated the second meeting of the Central Asian Regional Working Group (CA RWG) on March 14, 2024 online. Aim of the expert exchange was to promote innovative and sustainable solutions in the agricultural sectors in the region. The meeting brought together agricultural experts, researchers, and representatives from various institutions in Central Asia, led by team leader Dr Olga Hunger. Experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Germany took part in the meeting.
The meeting aimed to strengthen regional cooperation, share knowledge on various agricultural practices, and discuss the working group’s work plan for 2024. One of the main highlights was the presentation by Said Khasanov, long-term expert in the APD project, an organic farming expert, who shared the results of a survey conducted in December 2023 and proposed the composition of subgroups on different topics for the CA RWG .
The meeting also facilitated an open platform for participants to propose topics for future discussions. A representative from the Kyrgyz National Agrarian University (KNAU) emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts by suggesting the involvement of colleagues in the CA RWG and offering KNAU as a venue for hosting an expert meeting. Concurrently, a participant from Uzbekistan highlighted the need for research on regenerative agriculture to tackle issues related to land and soil quality degradation, food safety, and proposed establishing a pool of experts for these purposes. Meanwhile, Anton van Engelen, team leader of the German-Uzbek bilateral cooperation project, funded by the German Ministry of Agriculture and Food, proposed arranging a meeting in Tashkent to exchange insights on sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Further contributions came from Kazakhstan, with an expert expressing interest to broaden the engagement within the CA RWG, beyond just the fodder production segment. From the German-Mongolian cooperation project, funded similarly by the German Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the focus was brought to the pressing issue of conflict between farmers and livestock keepers in Mongolia and its implications for pasture degradation. Lastly, a Kyrgyzstan representative stressed the critical nature of climate change challenges and voiced a willingness to host a dedicated meeting, underlining the collective drive among participants to address multifaceted agricultural and environmental issues through international cooperation and expertise. Finally, APD team leader Dr Olga Hunger emphasized that the CA RWG is open to experts on various topics such as moisture-saving technologies or variety selection.
An upcoming event was announced by the NGO "KIVA Centre". A workshop on the SUFACHAIN project, a sustainable value chain in agroforestry, is scheduled to be held in Tashkent on 25-26 April. This project consortium includes partners from Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
The next meeting of the CA RWG is scheduled for July 2024. The main topics of discussion will be "Soil Fertility Management and Climate Resilient Agriculture". The platform remains open to all interested parties who wish to share their experiences and research results.
GOPA AFC firmly believes in the power of regional cooperation and knowledge exchange for the sustainable development of agriculture. We aim to continue fostering such platforms for sharing innovative and effective practices and research results.
For additional information, please contact Stefanie.Maak [at] gopa-afc.de