Representatives from Uzbekistan of the regional project “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-prone and Salt-affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Central Asia and Türkiye” attended a workshop in Istanbul on planning an integrated fight against drought in Central Asia.

The event was organized within the framework of the CACILM-2 project implemented by the FAO with the financial support of the Global Environmental Fund. It was attended by the specialists of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and other international organizations and leading scientists from Central Asian countries.

Six sessions over three days included presentations on new concepts and methods of drought risk assessment, water monitoring systems, use of global practices in vulnerability and impact assessment to combat drought, and gender equality in integrated drought management.

It was noted that the economic loss due to drought in Central Asia in 2000-2016 exceeded $2 billion. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change is already increasing the speed, intensity, and duration of droughts, severely affecting many sectors, including food and energy production.

“Research conducted by world-renowned scientists shows that soon, the cost of inactivity in this field will be ten times higher than the current activity level. That means one dollar spent today on landscape restoration and drought risk management programs will save ten dollars in the future”, said Mahmud Shoumarov, Regional Coordinator of the CACILM-2 project.

The UN Convention to Combat Desertification has launched an initiative to combat drought. Besides this, it launched a large-scale program to support the development of national plans in the same direction. Hopefully, the knowledge and experience gained by the Uzbekistan delegation will serve to develop measures to fight against desertification and drought in the country with a new perspective.

According to Muhammadjon Kasimov, the National Manager of the CACILM-2 project in Uzbekistan, “The workshop helped to better understand the specific features of integrated drought management planning. An overview of the modern approach to drought management was provided in this area. This created an opportunity to exchange experience and training between countries and technical organizations. Developing regional cooperation and strengthening joint action is fundamental in solving problems related to climate change, drought, as well as the use of land and water resources”.

The primary purpose of this idea is to promote the development of agriculture in the conditions of drought and salinity. In addition, special attention should be paid to the rational use of natural resources, primarily water and agricultural land. The project contributes significantly to implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in the Central Asian region.

As part of the project, experts are working on guidelines to cope with the salinization process. Modern agricultural machinery, greenhouses, and other means of income generation are handed over to local farmers by FAO.

Bekhruz Khudoyberdiyev, UzA