THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Press release…
Regional project delivers targeted training and equipment to rural women, transforming lives
The FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme project aims to empower rural women as drivers of innovation and economic growth.
4 December 2024, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye visited Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, on 18–22 November, as part of a regional project funded by the Government of Türkiye under the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme (FTPP).
Entitled “Leaving no one behind: greater involvement and empowerment of rural women in Türkiye and Central Asia”, the project has conducted gender assessments of the agricultural sector in both countries and delivered targeted training sessions and equipment that contribute to rural women’s income-generating capacities.
The delegation met with their counterparts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and FAO Country Offices in both countries, as well as representatives of local administrations, extension services and other stakeholders. During the ensuing discussions the participants exchanged experiences and best practices related to supporting rural women and facilitating their access to technical knowledge and skills. The participants also emphasized knowledge-sharing as a pivotal tool to empower women working in agrifood systems.
In Tajikistan, the delegation visited the village of Lolazor, where rural women have received training in fruit drying and mushroom cultivation to enhance their livelihoods. Solar fruit dryers, mushroom blocks and additional processing equipment were presented to 12 women, facilitating the creation of a women-led agricultural workshop.
“This visit exemplifies the robust collaboration between Türkiye and Central Asian countries under the long-running FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme”, explained Aghasi Harutyunyan, FAO Representative ad interim in Tajikistan. “Promoting gender equality in the agriculture and forestry sectors through policy support, capacity building and knowledge-sharing opportunities, is of the utmost importance, and helps ensure women’s full participation in agrifood systems transformation”.
In Uzbekistan, the delegation visited the mountainous district of Bostanlyk, where local women, trained in dairy processing and beekeeping, received equipment to expand their enterprises. According to Şaban Özakın, Head of the Department of Publication and Training of Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, “the initiative in Uzbekistan focuses on developing dairy processing and beekeeping, as these value chains were identified as those most desired by rural women”.
Özakın observed that the project is nearing completion and emphasized the Ministry’s happiness with the progress achieved. The delegation also noted the tangible impact of the project, which is leading to significant improvement in rural women’s livelihoods, fostering their economic independence.
Accounts provided by some of the beneficiaries underscored the transformative nature of the project: “Before, I was unemployed and focused solely on household chores”, explained Muhabbat Begmatova from Uzbekistan. “Through this project, I gained new skills and started producing dairy products. My goal is to expand my business and export under a unique brand.”
A regional conference featuring the participation of delegations from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, to be held in Ankara on 10–11 December, will mark the conclusion of the regional project.
About the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes…
The objectives of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes are to provide support to ensure food security, rural poverty reduction and sustainable forest management; combat desertification; and preserve ecosystems in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and other countries of mutual interest.
Established in 2007, the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP) has benefited from trust fund contributions totalling USD 10 million, financed by the Government of Türkiye and represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. During the first phase of the programme, 28 projects were implemented in 16 countries between 2009 and 2015.
In 2014, Türkiye and FAO commenced the second phase of the FTPP along with the first phase of the FAO-Türkiye Forestry Partnership Programme (FTFP) with additional funding of USD 20 million, bringing Türkiye’s total contribution to USD 30 million…
