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By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan and the United States might cooperate more closely in the sphere of agriculture.

Uzbekistan is interested in intensive resource saving technologies of the U.S. in agriculture, as well as in development of bilateral cooperation in the field of selection of new crops and protection of plants and animals from dangerous diseases, a source in the Uzbek Embassy to the U.S. said in a statement, Trend reported.

These issues were discussed by Uzbek delegation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the source.

Representatives of the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources visited the U.S. on October 23-November 1. During the meeting, the sides also discussed cooperation in the field of innovative and applied agricultural science.

Uzbekistan's economy depends heavily on agricultural production. Last year the volume of gross agricultural production in Uzbekistan reached 47.4 trillion soums. As of January 1, 2017, the number of operating farms exceeded 132,000 and dekhkan farms - 4.7 million.

In total, 8.2 million tons of grain, 2.9 million tons of potatoes, 11.2 million tons of vegetables, over 3 million tons of fruits and berries, 1.7 million tons of grapes, 2 million tons of melons and 2.9 million tons of raw cotton were produced in the country last year.

Because of the risks associated with a one-crop economy as well as from considerations of food security for the population, Uzbekistan has been trying to diversify its production of other agricultural products, while reducing cotton production.

During the visit, the Uzbek representatives attended the universities of Michigan and Ohio, where the delegation got acquainted with the information and consulting centers of the universities, their educational programs, and the scientific base.

The University of Michigan signed a memorandum of understanding with Tashkent State Agrarian University, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization, as well as Andijan and Samarkand agricultural institutes.

The cooperation will include joint research work, training of Uzbek specialists in agriculture at the University of Michigan.

The delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan also held a meeting in the American Councils for International Education (ACIE) organization.

The ACIE expressed its readiness to assist in expanding educational ties between Uzbekistan and the U.S., including in the agriculture sphere.

The ACIE is a non-profit organization which designs meaningful international experiences that create informed and empowered global citizens. The organization establishes partnerships with governments, institutions, and organizations to create educational programs across the world—particularly in strategically important regions vital to international relations, economy, and security.

In 1974, the ACIE developed the first exchanges between scholars from the Former Soviet Union and the United States. Today, the organization supports collaborative education between the United States and Africa, Asia, Eurasia, the Middle East, and South America. Their academic and professional programs are backed by thorough research and practice that ensures their quality.

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