Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- As part of the Week of Innovative Technologies in the Agrarian Sector, on 9 June, an award ceremony was held for the winners of the Applied Research Initiative Support Program competition organized by the Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the USAID Agribusiness Development Project. 

Opening speeches were delivered by Deputy Minister of Innovative Development Shakhlo Turdikulova and Head of the USAID Agribusiness Development Project Kirk Ramer.

The USAID Agribusiness Development Project and the Ministry of Innovative Development launched a call for proposals from researchers and research groups in the field of agribusiness under the Applied Research Initiative Support Program in January 2022. Based on the results of the competition, five finalists were selected, who will receive funding of up to 30 million soums from USAID to conduct research and publish the results in scientific journals.

Among the finalists are both research groups and individual researchers representing various organizations, such as the Center for Economic Research and Reform under the Office of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent Agrarian University, Namangan State University, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Melioration, as well as the Institute under the program of the Central Asian Regional economic cooperation (CAREC).

The research topics proposed by the participants cover a wide range of challenges in agribusiness in Uzbekistan, such as women's access to extension services in agriculture, youth participation in agriculture, feed production for the fish farming sector, and storage and processing of melons.

“Applied research is a source of knowledge and innovation in agriculture. Farmers and agribusinesses need the support of the research community to gain access to innovative solutions. USAID promotes linkages between academic research institutions and local agribusinesses. Links like these ensure that farmers and agribusinesses have access to successful technologies that improve their competitiveness,” said Kirk Ramer, USAID Agribusiness Development Project Manager.