Sixth Meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Central Asia

10.00-12.00 CET

The meeting entitled “Agricultural finance for the Sustainable Enhancement of Agricultural Productivity in Central Asia” will address pathways to increase agricultural productivity that delivers economic growth in an environmentally sustainable way. It will explore innovative models to encourage on-farm investment by the smallholders in new technologies and vital agricultural inputs through access to fair financing schemes by agricultural development banks.  Other topics for discussion include complementary public investments in infrastructure, subsidies, price supports, taxation and value chains, and an overview of the current state of research, learning and information systems for agriculture.

The meeting is co-organized by FAO with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan as a forum for providing FAO’s technical expertise, knowledge exchange between the region’s countries and regional representatives of the United Nations entities and International Finance Institutions.

The objectives of the meeting are to:

• achieve a better understanding of how to promote on-farm investment through innovative financing schemes;
• better comprehend the size and structure of public expenditure on agriculture in the countries of the region in relation to the needs of the agricultural sector;
• share examples of good practices not only in the countries within and outside the region, and identify win–win options for farmers and governments to enhance on-farm, as well as public investments to promote agricultural growth;
• make suggestions and recommendations for public policies to promote efficient agricultural finance at both on-farm and macro (national) levels.