ICBA Concludes Innovative Training Programme Linking Dubai Expertise with Uzbek Agricultural Application
The International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture has completed a pioneering Knowledge and Training Exchange Programme, seamlessly connecting specialised instruction in Dubai with practical field implementation in Nukus, Uzbekistan, to advance sustainable agricultural practices in regions facing environmental challenges.
The International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture has successfully concluded its inaugural Knowledge and Training Exchange Programme for Agricultural Sustainability, a pioneering initiative that has unified theoretical expertise with practical application across two continents. This remarkable undertaking, generously funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and delivered through partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, represents a transformative approach to agricultural capacity development.
The programme’s architecture comprised two complementary phases, each meticulously designed to build local expertise in operating integrated production systems suited to the distinctive environmental challenges of Karakalpakstan. The initial phase, conducted at ICBA’s headquarters in Dubai from 21st to 23rd September, brought together ten specialist professionals from Uzbekistan for intensive instruction in the principles, design and operation of integrated aqua-agriculture systems. This foundational training equipped participants with the scientific and technical knowledge essential to their work.
The second phase, conducted in Nukus on 5th and 6th October, welcomed sixteen participants for laboratory sessions and field activities of considerable practical value. Training encompassed the operation of integrated systems combining aquaculture, crop production and spirulina cultivation, with particular emphasis upon spirulina cultivation, harvesting and drying techniques. Participants examined the implementation requirements and adaptations necessary for local conditions, ensuring that knowledge acquired in Dubai translated into actionable expertise for their communities.
Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director-General of the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, remarked upon the programme’s significance: “We want the knowledge participants acquire to translate into the practical ability to implement agricultural solutions and adapt them to their communities’ needs. This is why the programme was designed to link training in Dubai with field application in Uzbekistan, giving local professionals the expertise needed to expand the use of integrated production systems.”
The initiative forms part of the scale-up phase of the ADFD-funded project Development of Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems in Degraded Areas of Karakalpakstan, which seeks to improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and promote sustainable, diversified agricultural production. The programme complements the Farmers’ and Agro-Entrepreneurs Accelerator in Karakalpakstan, which supports product and value chain development whilst strengthening market access. Through combining technical training with business acumen, participants gain comprehensive capabilities to translate agricultural solutions into viable enterprises and attract investment for expansion.
This progression from specialised training to field practice exemplifies the Centre’s unwavering commitment to connecting scientific research with capacity development and practical application, working collaboratively with national institutions and development partners to support sustainable agriculture and improve livelihoods in communities affected by salinity, water scarcity and land degradation.
Source: WAM