Potato Day in Ferghana Valley

POTATO DAY within the frames of the pilot project on potato cultivation in the Ferghana Valley.

On 16 October 2019, the ‘Potato Day’, demonstrating results of the promotion of potato cultivation in the Ferghana Valley, took place within the framework of the project "Sustainable Development in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan" co-funded by the European Union, implemented by consortium and lead by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).The French expert Michel Malet, with more than 30 years of experience in potato growing, based on the results of his research in Ferghana valley, presented his book in Uzbek language on potato multiplication, production and storage. Mr. Malet's book will serve as practical reference material, particularly for farmers and students. 

The ‘Potato Day’ participants visited the cold storage, which was constructed and opened in 2018 within the frame of the project. The cold storage has the capacity to store 100 tons of seed potatoes for further propagation and selling to potato farmers. In the same premises of the producers’ cooperative "Innovatsion Agro Servis", who are managing the cold storage, a chips processing line will be installed in the near future. The equipment is already in the process of delivery from Europe to Andijan.

Michel Malét shared impressions about his mission to Uzbekistan:

"This is one of the most comprehensive missions I have ever realized. Over the past two years, we have been able to teach various groups in the training sessions: potato producers, technicians, teachers and students. All of this was accompanied by field practice (technical support, variety screening, pesticide and disease management). I am also very happy to be a part of the development of a producers’ cooperative. I hope that they will achieve great success”.

The event was organized in Andijan region by the initiative of the implementing consortium member ADECIA (the French Agency for the development of international cooperation in the areas of agri­culture, food and rural space). The main purpose of the final session was to get acquainted with the results of the project activities in the field of potato cultivation in the Fergana Valley over the past few years. Representatives of national and international organizations came together in Andijan. They were from the Ministry of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan (RUz), Ministry of Agriculture of the RUz, Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the RUz, Ministry of Agriculture of France, Embassy of France in Moscow, Comission of the European Union Technical Assistance Programme National Coordinating Unit (NCU), Research Institute of Vegetable and Melon Crops and Potatoes of the RUz, Andijan Branch of the Tashkent State Agrarian University (teachers and students), Agrover Group of Companies and the Khokimiyat of Andijan region. 

We hope that such events will contribute to more rapid development of rural areas of Uzbekistan!

For additional information and materials about the potato value chain and cooperative in Ferghana valley, please contact the Chairman of “Innovation Agro Servis” Mr. Kamilov Murod: E-mail:kamilov-74@list.ru; Project PR & Communications Officer: Tamila Kurmakaeva, E-mail:tamila.kurmakaeva@giz.de