Ashgabat, 16 October 2020: Within the framework of the UNDP / GEF project “Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan”, a webinar “Establishing agricultural advisory services and knowledge dissemination services in Turkmenistan” was held.

The purpose of the webinar is to discuss the possibilities and requirements for creating services for the promotion of agricultural consulting services and knowledge in the context of Turkmenistan, further activity of agro-information centers established within the UNDP-GEF project, successful world practices in the development of agricultural consulting services. Participants were presented a draft framework action plan for the development of a concept document and follow-up activities, a framework for the development, financing and sustainability of the existing agro-information centers, the adoption of market principles. A common vision for the development of agricultural extension services based on the established centers, of the agro-information centers was discussed. 

Dosov Batyr, International Consultant of the UNDP Project noted: " The process of developing the system of agro-consulting services is a complex process, but it makes a significant contribution to the development and modernization of the sector, a tool for achieving the strategic goals of the agro-industrial complex of any country. Turkmenistan already has the preconditions and all the opportunities for the development of this direction."

Representatives of UNDP, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the State Committee for Water Management, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, khyakimliks of the Dashoguz and Lebap velayats, the Agricultural University named after S. A. Niyazov, the Turkmen Agricultural Institute, the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Wildlife of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the State Service for Hydrometeorology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection took part in the discussion.

The UNDP / GEF project team, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, established agro-information centers in Lebap and Dashoguz velayats to provide agricultural consulting in 2017. On the basis of the agro-information centers various trainings, seminars and advisory services are provided to farmers on adaptation to climate change. Together with local agricultural communities, local adaptation plans were developed, innovative resource-saving technologies were demonstrated and grant activities were initiated.           

The aim of the UNDP / GEF project " Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan" is to support climate resilient economic livelihoods of agricultural communities living in Lebap and Dashoguz velayats of Turkmenistan.