OREANDA-NEWS. June 13, 2014. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at the Oqsaroy received the Director General of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Jose Graziano da Silva.

At the start of the meeting, the head of our state expressed gratitude to the guest for the enthusiastic participation in the international conference “On Vital Reserves in the Realization of the Food Program in Uzbekistan”. The President noted that FAO is regarded in our nation as the world community’s key institution that deals with international policies and actions in the field of food security and agricultural development.

Since 2001, when Uzbekistan joined FAO, eight national and regional projects have been implemented in our country. Another five schemes of nationwide and regional significance are currently in the phase of realization.

As it has been stressed at the talks, FAO is instrumental in shaping global and regional balances in major types of foods and agricultural resources, in drawing the most advanced methods of selection and tillage, technologies of production of modern agricultural machinery and equipment to the developing countries, in introducing the international community with issues related to ensuring healthy and adequate nutrition.

Jointly with FAO, Uzbekistan has been training specialists and introducing cutting-edge technologies to save water and improve water resources management. Advanced methods are spearheaded in tillage, breeding and seed growing as well as combating desertification and soil degradation.

It has also been underscored during the meeting that the establishment of an FAO office in Tashkent during the first visit by the organization’s head to Uzbekistan will facilitate further development of cooperation dedicated to bolstering the agricultural potential of our nation.

During the conversation, Uzbekistan’s leader and the chief of the international organization exchanged views across a diversity of issues in food supplies, agricultural development, introduction of new drought-resistant varieties of food crops and new methodologies in farming.

Jose Graziano da Silva expressed sincere gratefulness to the President of our country for a warm welcome and the high level of organization of the conference. FAO Director General conveyed his conviction that the forum has become an important platform to address urgent problems faced by the humanity, such as providing for food security and agricultural development. The guest reiterated the willingness of FAO to further and enhance relations with Uzbekistan.