Gender equality and sustainable resource management: innovative strategies for Uzbekistan's agriculture.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, is implementing the GCP/UZB/020/GFF project "Sustainable Management of Forests and Pastures in the Ecosystems of Arid Lands of Uzbekistan." As part of this project, a draft Strategy for the Implementation of Gender Approaches in Agricultural Development has been developed, based on the principle that "No one should be left behind."

For the successful refinement and implementation of the document, it was crucial to engage representatives from government bodies, the academic community, and gender equality experts to discuss and agree on key provisions. In this regard, a seminar was organized in the capital, providing a platform for dialogue, exchange of views, and determination of practical steps for the adoption of the document. It is noteworthy that the new gender strategy aims to ensure equal opportunities, increase women's participation in decision-making, and promote sustainable management of agricultural resources. Special attention is given to creating mechanisms that help minimize existing gender barriers, ensuring equitable access to resources, financing, and educational opportunities.

“In 2021, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis approved the gender strategy, which suggested that each ministry and organization develop its own document in this direction. Why is it important to develop a gender strategy in agriculture? Today, the rural population of our country constitutes more than 48 percent of the total population, and more than half of them are women.

Despite the harsh living and working conditions in rural areas, they actively participate in providing the population with environmentally friendly products. The gender strategy includes, in particular, measures to improve the quality of jobs for women, as well as to enhance their financial and legal literacy,” noted Malika Kadykhanova, a member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, discussing the essence of the developing document.

It is worth noting that the draft Strategy was prepared with the participation of leading national and international experts, including specialists from the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia. "Sustainable development is impossible without considering the gender aspect. Women, as is well known, play a key role in agriculture, often engaged in livestock herding, harvesting, and land cultivation. However, their rights and opportunities are often limited, so strengthening the rights of landowners in pastures must be conscious and include ensuring equal access to resources for both women and men.

Discussing topics such as land degradation indicators and soil erosion is extremely important, as these factors directly affect agricultural productivity and, consequently, the economic well-being of families, where women often bear the primary responsibility for food security. Climate change and land degradation exacerbate existing inequalities, so it is necessary to develop tools and mechanisms that help women adapt to changes and successfully work in new conditions,” emphasized Nariman Nishanov, the chief technical advisor of the FAO project.

As part of the event, another seminar was organized for representatives of relevant organizations and agencies. Participants discussed the importance of strengthening landowners' rights in pastures, as well as the impact of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) indicators and degradation factors such as soil erosion, salinization, and the decrease of soil organic carbon (SOC) content. Presentations of research results aimed at the rational use of pastures, the implementation of modern monitoring and management methods, as well as projects dedicated to the digitalization of pastures in Uzbekistan were also showcased.