Third-party partners, WB mission discuss social impact of mechanism of cotton picking process

The sides discussed various aspects of assessment of impact of mechanization of cotton picking process, prepared by the World Bank.

During the discussion, it was underlined that the Government of Uzbekistan adopted and implements a programme of speeding up mechanization of cotton picking process as part of wide-scale strategy of the Government on modernization of agriculture sector and decreasing expenses of production.

At the event, the participants discussed preliminary results of the assessment of impact of mechanization of cotton picking process, prepared by the experts of the World Bank, to workers of agriculture sector and farmers. The document said that farmers from focus group said that mechanization will ensure important advantage in the view of management of cotton picking and finishing of the process soon.

Some people, who participated in cotton picking, expressed their concern that mechanization of cotton picking can negatively impact to the source of income.

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources informed the World Bank mission on measures, realized in Uzbekistan, to diversify agriculture sector, first of all, due to creation of agriculture and cattle breading enterprises, as well as processing agriculture products.

At the event, the participants discussed world experience and various mechanisms of organization of public work, directed at ensuring additional and alternative sources of income for vulnerable layers of population in rural areas.