Uzbekistan: Rural Enterprise Support Project (RESPII) - Ph. I

Projekt abgeschlossen
Water flume meters at Farmer Filed Schools
©SCO Tashkent. Water flume meters at Field Farmers' School ©SCO Tashkent

Agriculture is one of the major components of the economy of Uzbekistan. Approximately 64 percent of the country’s population lives in rural areas. Around 32 percent of the labor force is directly employed in agriculture. In addition, the agricultural sector has a direct impact on and relationship with many other areas of the economy generating 70 percent of domestic trade and servicing 90 percent of the domestic demand for agricultural products.

The project consists of three components financed by the Government of Uzbekistan, the World Bank and the SDC.

The first component of RESP-II, ”Rural Enterprise Finance” is focused on a credit line for loans and leases to be issued through participating financial institutions. These funds will be used to finance investments in agricultural machinery, food processing equipment, storage, packaging, provision of agricultural services and inputs. The component also includes technical assistance for capacity building of financial intermediaries and provision of prospective loan applicants’ access to business planning services.

Another component, “Irrigation and Drainage” (I&D) is aimed at achieving improved irrigation water management and service delivery, through the rehabilitation of critical inter-farm and on-farm irrigation and drainage infrastructure. It will also strengthen the Water Consumer Associations (WCA) and provide a pilot demonstration of applied modern water management techniques in 7 districts selected by the project. The “Irrigation and Drainage” component is divided into three subcomponents, two of which are funded by Switzerland.

The third component, “Rural Training and Advisory Services” covers the entire area of the 7 oblasts selected for RESP II. Within this component training and advisory services to farmers outside of the pilot districts will be provided. Training and advisory services will focus on entrepreneurial, legal, accounting, business and farm management issues, as well as technical aspects, namely:  water management and agronomy. Farmer Training Workshops, Training of Trainers, and specific Mass Media Campaigns will be organized within the framework of this component.

Switzerland is involved in two subcomponents of the (I&D) component: “Strengthening of WCAs and WCA support services” and “Support for Improved Irrigation and Drainage Technology”.

In the Swiss funded “Strengthening of WCAs and WCA support services” subcomponent technical assistance is provided to WCA development and water management. These consist foremost of national/regional expertise to ensure feasibility and appropriateness of advice, support and training provided. The Swiss contribution in this subcomponent is combined with US$ 2.72 of the World Bank loan funds for procurement of basic equipment necessary for operation and maintenance works of on-farm irrigation and drainage infrastructures. This subcomponent builds on experiences and best practices of the IWRM project.

The “Support for Improved Irrigation and Drainage Technology” subcomponent is financed by Switzerland as well. This subcomponent focuses on the provision of water extension messages through demonstration and dissemination plots at each WUA in the selected 7 districts.

Land/Region Thema Periode Budget
Zentralasien
Wasser
Landwirtschaft und Ernährungssicherheit
Einsparung von Wasserressourcen
Landwirtschaftliche Wasserressourcen
Landwirtschaftliche Entwicklung
01.03.2009 - 28.02.2012
CHF  2’465’000