Uzbekistan promotes sustainable sweet cherry value chain through South-South Cooperation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Government of Uzbekistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are scaling up efforts to strengthen the sweet cherry value chain through a new FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) project under the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative.

As a major milestone of this collaboration, a regional workshop and training on the OCOP initiative for Europe and Central Asia was held in Namangan from 18 to 20 May 2026. The event brought together around 65 participants, including government officials, representatives from 10 OCOP countries from the region, farmers, private sector actors, researchers, and value chain experts from China and FAO to strengthen capacities for the sustainable development of special agricultural products (SAPs), showcasing Uzbekistan’s sweet cherry sector.

Currently, eleven countries in Europe and Central Asia are part of the OCOP initiative, which helps Member States promote their unique SAPs. Uzbekistan has been selected as one of the 15 global OCOP demonstration countries, representing Europe and Central Asia under this global SSC project funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Supported by the project and led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Uzbekistan will strengthen the entire sweet cherry value chain — from production and post-harvest handling to processing, marketing, and better access to international markets.

Uzbekistan produces up to 180 000 tonnes of sweet cherries annually. Its favourable climate, relatively low production costs, and well-established transport and cold-storage networks provide a strong competitive advantage in export markets, making the fruit a major driver of rural incomes and economic growth. Smallholder family farms are the backbone of this sector, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the country's total horticultural output. As sweet cherry cultivation is largely driven by these farms —with women playing a vital role in both production and processing—the economic benefits directly lift and empower local rural communities.

“Sweet cherry is one of Uzbekistan’s high-potential horticultural products, with strong relevance for farmers, rural businesses and export-oriented value chains,” said Mirshod Kurbonov, First Deputy Director of the Agency for Governance Efficiency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. “Through the OCOP initiative, we see an opportunity to bring together knowledge, innovation and partnerships to improve production practices, reduce post-harvest losses and create greater value along the sweet cherry chain.”

“It is impressive to see how the OCOP initiative has grown into a global movement, now engaging over 90 countries,” said Nuriddin Kushnazarov, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan. “As one of the OCOP demonstration countries, Uzbekistan has already made important progress, and we are confident that, with the support of FAO-China South-South Cooperation, the project will deliver even more tangible results.”

“Uzbekistan’s selection as the OCOP demonstration country for Central Asia reflects its strong potential in developing competitive and sustainable horticultural value chains,” said Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan. “By focusing on sweet cherry, the initiative supports practical cooperation among farmers, researchers, private sector actors and institutions, helping turn local potential into stronger market opportunities and more resilient rural livelihoods.”

The workshop reviewed OCOP implementation progress across the region and featured technical sessions focused on sustainable production systems, adoption of innovative technologies, and market development. To support the sector, leading experts from China shared practical experiences and advanced technologies. Chuang Liu, Chief Scientist of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced the Geographical Indications for Environment and Sustainability (GIES) methodology and highlighted a new ground station in Fergana designed to enhance product traceability and environmental sustainability. Jiawei Wang, Chief Expert on sweet cherry from the Shandong Institute of Pomology, presented cutting-edge advancements in sustainable cultivation, storage, processing, and standardized seedling systems.

Participants also exchanged experiences and best practices from other OCOP countries in the region, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Türkiye.

A dedicated field visit in Namangan Province gave participants first-hand exposure to innovative practices across the sweet cherry value chain. The programme included visits to a cherry orchard in Varzak village, Chust district, and to an advanced logistics company in Turakurgan district, where participants observed practical examples of sustainable production, logistics systems, and post-harvest handling.

“The experiences shared by Uzbekistan as a demonstration country can inspire and guide other countries in the region in promoting their own SAPs,” said Yurdi Yasmi, Director of FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division. “By learning from one another, OCOP has created a strong regional community of practice that can deliver meaningful results for farmers, rural communities, and future generations.”

Hua Yang, Director of FAO’s South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division, underscored the importance of working together to ensure effective implementation and timely delivery of results: “FAO senior management, including the FAO Director-General, attaches great importance to its successful implementation. We must therefore work together to ensure that the project delivers visible, concrete and scalable impacts. Together, let us translate this project into tangible results on the ground, benefiting farmers and communities across Europe and Central Asia”.

The workshop marks an important step in advancing the OCOP initiative in Europe and Central Asia, translating knowledge exchange and regional cooperation into concrete action to support the sustainable development of special agricultural product value chains that benefit farmers and rural communities in Uzbekistan and other participating countries.