Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 25 July, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev took part in the VII meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The meeting was also attended by the heads of responsible ministries and departments of India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, as well as the leadership of the SCO and the UN FAO for Central Asia.

Speaking with a welcoming speech, Jamshid Khodjaev highly appreciated the work of the SCO Secretariat on interaction with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the framework of the implementation of the Joint Action Plan between the two organizations for 2020-2023, and also put forward a number of constructive proposals aimed at engaging "points growth” and unlocking the full potential of agriculture in the region. In particular, the need for the introduction of high technologies and innovations, digitalization, the exchange of accumulated experience and knowledge, and the provision of comprehensive support for the development of household plots and horticulture was emphasized.

It was proposed to take active measures to popularize and promote agro-ecological agriculture in the SCO space, as well as to launch large projects for the development of the agricultural sector together with FAO. 

The prospects for the adoption of a comprehensive program for the development of agritourism, the active exchange of experience in this area, as well as the organization of regular joint international festivals were noted.

In terms of personnel training, a priority for all countries of the region, the need was emphasized to establish close cooperation between higher educational institutions specializing in agriculture. We are talking about the development of partnership in the technological part, mutual investments in research and development work, training of personnel and the creation of the necessary infrastructure. As a first step towards the implementation of the initiative, the SCO member countries were invited to establish cooperation with the International Agricultural University, which was recently opened in Tashkent.

As a result of the meeting, it was possible to exchange views on a broad agenda of issues of cooperation in the agricultural sector. The draft Concept of Interaction between the SCO Member States in the Field of Smart Agriculture and Agro-Innovations, which opens up great prospects for strengthening food security throughout the region, was also approved.