The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in close partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan and with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea, officially handed over two advanced greenhouses to Fergana State University under the "Smart Farming for the Future Generation" project.
The facilities – a 100m² Modern Seedling Production Greenhouse and a 284m² Model Demonstration Greenhouse – are fully equipped with irrigation, cooling, and heating systems, insect-proof netting, and modern shade and thermal curtains. They will serve as hands-on platforms for teaching, research, and demonstration of climate-resilient horticulture practices.
© Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
The handover ceremony gathered representatives from FAO Headquarters in Rome, the Fergana Regional Administration, the Fergana Regional Agricultural Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as Fergana State University leadership, faculty members, students, and project beneficiaries from Fergana, Andijan, and Namangan regions. The program included welcoming speeches, a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony, a guided tour of the new greenhouses, and a distribution of FAO's technical manual on sustainable vegetable production in greenhouses to students.
"These greenhouses have become a true laboratory – a foundation for our researchers and students to conduct experiments, innovate, and increase Uzbekistan's scientific capacity in horticulture," said Mr. Qahramon Davronov, Head of the Department of Horticulture and Viticulture. "It is important to note that many of the greatest breakthroughs in horticultural science globally have been achieved in protected systems such as greenhouses. With these facilities, our university is better equipped to follow that path."
Smallholder farmers – project beneficiaries from Fergana, Andijan, and Namangan regions – also joined the event, underscoring the project's vital link between innovation and rural households. The model greenhouses will not only serve as platforms for academic research, but also as hubs for developing and testing innovations that can be directly transferred to smallholder farmers. This cooperation ensures that scientific advances enhance productivity and contribute to food security.
"It is remarkable to see here three generations coming together – smallholder farmers who have grown vegetables their whole lives, professors and teachers leading research in horticulture, and young students, the future farmers, researchers and practitioners," said Mr. Guido Santini, Programme Coordinator at FAO. "The model greenhouses have united these generations in pursuit of greater food security and a brighter future for Uzbekistan."
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
