Uzbekistan Launches FAO Initiative to Boost Sweet Cherry Value Chain
Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the “One Country One Priority Product” (OCOP) Initiative to promote sustainable agricultural value chains worldwide. Uzbekistan has chosen sweet cherries as its Special Agricultural Product (SAP), highlighting their significance in boosting food security, empowering small farmers, and advancing environmentally sustainable practices.
The inaugural meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) supporting Uzbekistan’s National Task Force for OCOP implementation took place on October 25, 2024. Representatives from key governmental bodies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agency for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex, the Agency for Plant Protection and Quarantine, and the Academician Makhmud Mirzaev Scientific-Research Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture, and Winemaking, attended. The gathering also featured participants from private agribusiness firms and the European Union Agricultural Support Program (EU ASK Facility).
The primary objective discussed was the creation of a sustainable value chain for sweet cherries, which would directly benefit small farmers, fortify the national economy, and uphold environmental preservation. The TWG members finalized their composition and outlined responsibilities to ensure effective coordination among governmental agencies, farmers’ associations, private enterprises, and research institutions in implementing the OCOP initiative.
The OCOP Initiative, spearheaded by FAO, is a global effort to establish robust, sustainable agricultural supply chains connected to countries’ heritage products. By doing so, it seeks to enhance food security, reduce malnutrition, and stimulate local economic growth. The initiative aligns with FAO’s Strategic Framework for 2022-2031 and supports the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Currently, 87 countries are participating in the OCOP initiative, promoting 53 unique agricultural products. In Europe and Central Asia alone, 11 countries are actively advancing SAPs, including Albania (chestnut), Azerbaijan (pomegranate), Kazakhstan (apples), and Türkiye (figs). Through such strategic efforts, Uzbekistan aims to leverage its agricultural potential and champion sustainable development practices.
