The French Development Agency (AFD) is currently working on future projects in Karakalpakstan, near the Aral Sea, with a focus on solving environmental problems faced by Uzbekistan.
AFD director in Uzbekistan Olivier Granvoine told Trend.
‘One of the main projects is tree planting. So far, 20,000 hectares of windbreak forests and halophytic plants have been planted in nine districts of Karakalpakstan with the technical support and participation of the project team. AFD also wants to plant 5,000 hectares to encourage agroforestry and the cultivation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), such as fruits and roots that can be eaten. This will give local people a sustainable way to earn money and fulfil their timber and medicinal needs,’ he said.
Another important project is in the irrigation sector, he said, where AFD is working to rehabilitate irrigation canals in the lower Amu Darya basin in an effort to improve both infrastructure and water management. This project will address the needs of farmers and address climate change, water scarcity, and land degradation. Reconstruction efforts may also include the introduction of water-saving technologies, such as drip irrigation, to support sustainable agricultural practices.
‘Uzbekistan is developing rapidly and making significant progress in many areas, which requires support from international financial institutions such as AFD. I am confident that AFD will continue to rapidly expand its portfolio and activities in a wide range of sectors in response to the needs of the Uzbek authorities,’ Olivier Granvoine added.
