AKIPRESS.COM - Tashkent hosts a two-day International Forum dedicated to the International Day of Rural Women on "The role of women in ensuring food security and innovative development of agriculture", UzA noted.

The forum, organized jointly with the United Nations Development Programme, the Senate of the Parliament of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Women's Committee, and the Agrarian Women Association, brings together women from Central Asian countries and Türkiye working in the agricultural sector.

This event has been regularly held in Uzbekistan since October 15, 2019, in connection with the International Day of Rural Women.

The opening ceremony of the international forum featured a video message from Chairperson of the Senate of the Parliament Tanzila Narbayeva to the forum participants.

Then Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women and Gender Equality Malika Kadirkhanova, Chairperson of the Women’s Committee Zulaykho Mahkamova, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Kakhramon Yuldoshev, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union in Uzbekistan Mindaugas Kacerauskis, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Anas Qarman and others expressed their opinions on the role and participation of women in agriculture, increasing their potential in this area, and expanding women's opportunities to develop agribusiness.

The participants noted that almost 9 million women live in rural areas in Uzbekistan today. Most of them are employed in the agricultural sector. Women head only 6.5% of the more than 85,000 farms in the country. It was noted that this does not correspond to existing potential.

At the forum, opinions and proposals were expressed to further increase the potential of women in the agricultural sector by increasing their role and motivation.

It is planned to hold open discussions on the study of the biodiversity of crops and the use of digital technologies in food production, innovative approaches in the production, storage, and primary processing of agricultural products, their sustainable development and adaptation to climate change, rational use of land and water resources.