BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Uzbekistan, the
Adaptation Fund and the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD) have signed an agreement to launch a $10 million
project aimed at strengthening climate resilience in the country's
agricultural sector and improving food security in rural
communities, Trend
reports via the National Committee on Ecology and Climate
Change.


The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Eighth Assembly
of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Eco Expo Central
Asia 2026 international exhibition following talks between Aziz
Abdukhakimov, adviser to the President of Uzbekistan on
environmental issues and chairman of the National Committee on
Ecology and Climate Change, and Mikko Ollikainen, head of the
Adaptation Fund.


The project, titled "Resilient Food Systems Through Climate
Services for Agriculture in Uzbekistan," will be implemented by
IFAD with financial support from the Adaptation Fund. The
initiative is designed to enhance food system resilience and reduce
rural poverty through improved climate services, expanded access to
climate information and strengthened institutional capacity.


As part of the project, Uzbekistan plans to establish a modern
agroclimatic monitoring system, install 40 automated
agrometeorological stations, introduce intelligent pest-monitoring
technologies and upgrade the climate laboratory of Uzhydromet.
Specialists will also be equipped with digital tools for collecting
and analyzing climate data.


The five-year initiative will support long-term climate analysis
and the delivery of climate services to rural populations, with a
particular focus on small-scale farmers, women and vulnerable
communities.







During the meeting, the parties also discussed broader
cooperation in climate adaptation, agricultural resilience, water
and food security, and support for rural communities affected by
climate change.


Abdukhakimov said Uzbekistan views the Adaptation Fund as one of
the most effective international climate finance mechanisms and
emphasized that climate adaptation remains a strategic priority for
the country as it addresses challenges such as land degradation,
sand and dust storms, water scarcity and sustainable rural
development.


The Uzbek side also highlighted the country's updated climate
commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC
3.0), which call for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
per unit of GDP by 2035. Officials noted that achieving these
targets will require expanded international partnerships and
greater access to climate finance.


The discussions further covered potential cooperation on
innovative adaptation projects, including digital monitoring
technologies, early warning systems, locally led adaptation
initiatives and efforts to strengthen the resilience of the Aral
Sea region to sand and dust storms.