World Bank Document

 

Strategic Theme 3: Diversification 

 

17. 

The government and the World Bank Group have focused the activities under this 

strategic theme on diversification of agricultural production away from the traditional 

cotton production towards higher value-added crops. The World Bank financed 2

nd

 Phase of 

the Rural Enterprise Support Project and its Additional Financing funded the training of 62,000 

farmers on topics ranging from orchard and vineyard production, processing and marketing 

products to preparing business plans, agricultural law and taxation, as well as issues related to 

prohibition of child and forced labor in line with the national laws and regulations. As a result of 

these activities and the expanded dialogue around labor relations in the cotton sector, the 

Government has requested assistance from the Bank to develop a comprehensive strategy for 

agricultural diversification away from cotton, which will be financed through the South 

Karakalpakstan Water Resources Management Improvement and Horticulture Development 

projects (both approved in June 2014). Integral to this technical assistance is to share international 

experience in implementing cotton sector reforms to facilitate the agriculture diversification 

process in the country.

 

The Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Mitigation Project (GEF) 

will support promotion of selected renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies of 

relevance to agri-businesses and farms; and strengthen capacity for improving degraded irrigated 

land and water conservation in the project area.