The USAID Agribusiness Development activity supports private sector-led growth in Uzbekistan’s agriculture sector by introducing new value-added technologies and management practices across the entire value chain for targeted agricultural commodities.

The USAID Agribusiness Development activity will capitalize on previous USAID investments and advancements by increasing the quantity, quality, and diversity of agricultural goods and services in Uzbekistan by private enterprises. USAID will support Uzbekistan’s private sector, while enabling the country to create meaningful jobs in the formal economy for its burgeoning workforce. These efforts will be focused on increasing value-added production within Uzbekistan, engaging vulnerable populations, including youth and women, linking educational institutions with private sector demand, and fostering a favorable environment for agriculture.

ACTIVITY COMPONENTS

COMPONENT 1: AGRIBUSINESS GROWTH

• Introduce innovative business management practices to improve agribusiness competitiveness and profitability. Build capacity of Uzbek organizations to train and certify agribusinesses in quality standards needed to access new markets.
• Co-finance investments in new technologies to enable agribusinesses to add value to products and increase sales and income.

COMPONENT 2: WOMEN AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

• Design and administer business skills development training to empower women and youth (ages 16 to 29 years) with the skills and capacity to secure managerial or technical positions within agribusinesses. 
• Disburse grants to graduates of business skills development training to assist them in starting up new agribusinesses.  

COMPONENT 3: LINKING ACADEMIA WITH AGRIBUSINESSES 

• Promote internship and employment opportunities for students at agribusinesses.
• Introduce new and improved curricula to educate students in practical skills needed for agribusiness.
• Support design and implementation of joint research projects between academia and the private sector that serve the needs of agribusinesses.       

COMPONENT 4: STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES

• Introduce new and improved agriculture extension services. 
• Build the capacity of public and private sector extension agents to provide quality agriculture extension services. 
• Design extension services to reach all stakeholders through social media. 

COMPONENT 5: POLICY PROMOTION

• Analyze, revise, and propose policies, regulations, and standards to improve Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector, and to increase regional trade. 
• Support the Ministry of Agriculture in the implementation of its Strategy for the Development of Agriculture for 2020 – 2030. 
• Promote public-private dialogue to address obstacles to the growth and development of Uzbekistan’s agriculture sector.