So, on February 15, 2023, the next platform was held. It was quite successful. There were interesting speakers, interesting questions and comments.
The first speaker was Laura Becker, project manager for the “AI-driven, climate-smart beekeeping for women in Uzbekistan and Ethiopia (AIICAP)” project, researcher at the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning group of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Regions (ICARDA) and Rustam Ibragimov - deputy Head of the ICARDA Regional Office for Central Asia and the South Caucasus (ICARDA-CAC).
Laura Becker and Rustam Ibragimov
The speakers talked about the mobile application being created for beekeepers. This application was developed by Hive Trucks (USA). It will allow beekeepers to adjust their actions and migrations based on weather data; it will have a live platform for communication with each other to discuss professional issues. This application will allow beekeepers to increase their efficiency, prevent losses, and more quickly prevent and combat bee diseases. The application will be finalized and launched soon. The presentation is below for your viewing pleasure. You can also ask all your questions by email:l.becker@cgiar.org
The second speaker waseOybek Tashmatov. Oybek is a representative of a family that deals with hydroelectric power stations. He is already the third generation. At first, his grandfather, Rustam-aka Tashmatov, approached us at the GEF SGP with the idea of building a mini hydroelectric station. Or rather, restore the old one, built in the 1920s, which can work for many more years and provide electricity. It was the idea of independently producing energy and selling it to the grid. For those times, this project was revolutionary. We supported him, but government agencies did not. The project didn't take off. Then, the son of Rustam aka, Alisher Tashmatov, came up with the same idea. We again supported his idea, but the local authorities did not give him the opportunity to implement it. With the new President of Uzbekistan, the road to decentralization of energy production has opened in the country. And now the state is looking for partners who could develop gyroelectric power stations. And Oybek and his father are now developing such a project, independently, in the Andijan region. This is what Oybek talked about - how to create a hydroelectric power station. You can see his presentation below, and contact him by phone for more information.
Oybek Tashmatov
Download the presentation on the hydroelectric station of Oybek Tashmatov
In general, this topic is very relevant now.250 sites are open for development for the construction and launch of mini and micro hydroelectric power stations.
Then, Evgeniy Konstantinovich Botman made a presentation on planting almonds as a green business for the sustainable development of arid foothills. Almonds, like pistachios, are a very profitable crop and the best choice for the development of arid foothills. Previously, the GEF SGP conducted a comparative economic analysis of pistachio cultivation with any other type of land use. And pistachio turned out to be an order of magnitude more profitable than other types of use of these lands. Such an analysis has not yet been carried out with almonds, but it is also confident that it will show excellent results. In addition, the vegetation cover in the form of pistachio and almond plantations on degraded slopes is much better than countless herds of sheep and goats. For any questions on this topic, please contact the speaker by phone. His presentation is below for your reference.
Evgeny Botman on a typical landscape of almond and pistachio growing (rain-fed foothills) in the Jizzakh region
Evgeniy Konstantinovich introduced everyone to the collection for propagation of varietal almond material, which is currently being created in the Jizzakh region. For future owners of almond plantations in Uzbekistan.
Evgeny Botman
Download presentation on almonds
After the almonds, students had the opportunity to get acquainted with a project on energy-efficient passive greenhouses that do not require external fuel - gas, coal or electricity. The presentation was made by Muratali Migliev, partner of the Jasurbek Oltin Mevalari farm. Please check out his presentation and call him with questions.
Muratali Migliev
Download presentation on greenhouses
Then Elena Abdullaeva spoke, who spoke about the project, which is now actively being prepared for implementation, and which is looking for partners and investors. The idea is to create a DNA laboratory to test and determine the genotype of wild animals to prevent their illegal trade. The project is aimed entirely at preserving wildlife, but will also provide services to everyone to achieve self-financing. It is planned that monetization will also occur through DNA tests for purebred dogs and cats, scientific projects and other interested parties. We hope that the project will be implemented and will create an excellent tool for the conservation of rare species of animals living in the territory of our state.
Elena Abdullaeva
Download Elena's presentation on creating a DNA laboratory
Climate Risk Assessment
At the conclusion of the speaker program, Dr. Zafar Gafurov, regional researcher of the IWMI representative office for Central Asia, spoke with the project “Online information panel for assessing climate risks in Uzbekistan.”
Dr. Zafar Gafurov
After the speakers’ speeches, a question was asked for brainstorming to the entire audience: “Do you believe in green energy and what is needed for it to become commonplace in Uzbekistan?” And here are just a few quotes that were heard:
“Green energy is not green in Uzbekistan,”said the biologist. Wind and solar farms are being built without regard to the harm they cause to wildlife, occupy vast areas of wild land, and could be better positioned geographically to minimize the use of wild lands.
We are doing “green energy” not for its greenness, but because it is profitable. Our economy is always placed above natural needs.
More investments in scienceare needed, which will pay off handsomely: solid-phase or two-stage biogas plants; coating solar photovoltaic panels with ultra-thin film to reduce the effect of dust and maximum temperatures, which reduce the efficiency of solar power plants; development of free-flowing, low-speed hydropower stations on numerous irrigation canals in Uzbekistan; and much more
Establishing firewood plantationson marginally productive lands with a sustainable wood supply, such as saxaul in deserts, is an excellent green, renewable fuel option.
In general, the discussion went really well and was lively.
The next platform will take place in a couple of months. Follow the announcements.
A few photos from the event
