FAO and Uzbekistan Strengthen Partnership to Promote Sustainable Rural Development and Food Security by 2030

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Uzbekistan have signed a new framework agreement aimed at providing more targeted support to the country’s rural communities and enhancing the resilience of its agri-food sector.

The agreement is designed to improve the effectiveness of territorial development strategies, ensure food security and better nutrition, strengthen epidemiological surveillance under the “One Health” concept, promote sustainable management of natural resources, and reduce environmental risks and threats in agriculture by 2030.

The FAO-Uzbekistan framework program for 2026–2030 aligns with the United Nations’ priorities in the country and the global Sustainable Development Goals. The agreement was signed by FAO Deputy Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, Viorel Gutu, and the Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov.

“Our partnership with Uzbekistan is built on a solid foundation of commitment to inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience in the agri-food sector,” Viorel Gutu emphasized. “FAO offers the country world-class expertise and accumulated experience to jointly improve the lives of rural families and support the development of local economies.”

Uzbekistan became a member of FAO in 2001, and the organization’s representative office in Tashkent was opened in 2014. Despite being landlocked and largely situated in arid and mountainous regions, agriculture remains a key sector of the national economy, accounting for approximately 19% of GDP in 2024. In recent years, Uzbekistan has made significant progress in ensuring food security and improving nutrition, as reflected in international indicators and national statistics.

At the same time, the country’s agricultural sector faces serious challenges, including limited access to essential resources—particularly for women and youth in rural areas—climate change, environmental degradation, transformation of trade structures, and dependence on transboundary water resources. These factors underscore the need for targeted and systematic strengthening of the resilience of Uzbekistan’s agri-food system.

The new framework program is designed to support Uzbekistan’s national strategic priorities in transforming its agri-food sector. It emphasizes sustainable agricultural development, rational use of land and water resources, climate resilience, rural development, and the creation of inclusive economic opportunities.

The program focuses on building national capacity to implement effective territorial development strategies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality in rural areas. To improve public health and nutrition, it will enhance the management of food safety, nutrition policy, and sanitary-epidemiological surveillance under the “One Health” concept.

Attention is also given to the integrated management of land and water resources, conservation of biodiversity in agri-food systems, and mitigation of environmental risks, including plant protection, rational use of chemicals, waste management, and monitoring air and water quality, as well as reducing natural disaster threats.

Currently, FAO is implementing 35 projects in Uzbekistan, covering a wide range of areas, including school nutrition, agricultural statistics, digitalization of agriculture, biodiversity conservation, integrated natural resource management, the “One Health” approach, and other initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development in the country’s rural areas.