BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 14. Uzbekistan and
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
have agreed on a roadmap for the introduction of renewable energy
technologies in the agricultural sector to reduce dependence on
fossil fuels and mitigate climate change, a source at FAO told
Trend.


"The roadmap was prepared within the framework of the Food
Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) program and includes the
deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for irrigation pumps
and cold storage facilities, as well as other energy-efficient
solutions," the source said.


According to the source, FAO is actively supporting initiatives
aligned with modern and climate-resilient agricultural
practices.


"FAO is implementing the ‘Smart Farming for the Future
Generation’ project, which promotes the adoption of modern and
optimized greenhouse technologies, as well as integrated pest
management solutions," the source noted.


The source said the project aims to increase agricultural yields
and farmers’ incomes while reducing the use of pesticides and
water. Climate-smart technologies have already been introduced for
priority fruit and vegetable crops.


"In parallel, FAO is supporting improvements in water management
through the installation of drip irrigation systems and the
provision of technical assistance to adjust water quality
parameters, including salinity and acidity, to ensure more
efficient water use," the representative said.







The source added that broader cooperation also includes
technical assistance on transboundary water governance, as well as
capacity-building programs in the field of irrigation.


"FAO is also contributing to the digitalization of Uzbekistan’s
agricultural sector through the Digital Villages Initiative, which
supports the use of digital tools in rural areas, including sensors
in greenhouses to monitor and control temperature, humidity, and
soil moisture," the source said.


According to the organisation, digital agriculture is also being
promoted through platforms such as pesticide registration systems
and digital soil maps.


Meanwhile, the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact
Program (FOLUR) is a seven-year initiative with total funding of
$345 million, financed by the Global Environment Facility and led
by the World Bank.