Most of the people in arid territories of Uzbekistan are engaged in livestock breeding. Absence of the sustainable pasture management brings about severe degradation of the vulnerable arid pastures. The little subsistence agriculture that is carried out is even further suppressed by the increasing aridity and water deficit brought by the climate change. Increased aridity coupled with the pasture mismanagement aggravate the problem of the land degradation in this region.
The project targets to show local population how to keep and perhaps even improve livelihood in light of the increased aridity and water deficit through engaging into viable alternative to livestock breeding - cultivation of the drought tolerant tree species and improving water saving irrigation practices for tree plantations.
The project will train local farmers through on-job training how to plant, cultivate and take care of the trees that can grow in the arid conditions. On 30 ha the project will demonstrate almond and pistachio tree plantations. Plus, on the 12 ha the project will demonstrate how to grow other trees using dripping irrigation where water is pumped from the underground using hybrid solar-wind energy equipment.