Almaty, Kazakhstan, 26 September 2024 – The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), in collaboration with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), officially launched the innovative project, “Smarter Agriculture, Brighter Futures: Implementing Intelligent Agriculture.” This pivotal event, hosted by the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU), marks a significant step toward advancing sustainable agricultural practices across Central Asia through the use of cutting-edge technologies.
The opening ceremony featured key addresses by several distinguished figures, including Dr. Ismail Abdelhamid, Head of the Projects Office at IOFS; Prof. Dr. Primkul Ibragimov, First Deputy of Chairman of the Board-Rector of KazNARU; Mr. Bakbergen Koishibayev, First Secretary of the National Commission of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ICESCO (joining online); Prof. Rafis Abazov, Vice-Rector of KazNARU; and Dr. Adel Smeda, Expert at Science and Environment Sector of ICESCO.
Dr. Ismail Abdelhamid, in his keynote address, emphasized the critical role of smart agriculture and the use of IoT sensor networks in modernizing agricultural practices. He highlighted the strong partnership between IOFS, ICESCO, and KazNARU, which serves as a foundation for promoting smart agriculture in the region. The conference brought together 55 participants, including experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, alongside international specialists.
A key moment of the event was the Signing Ceremony for the Hand-Over Certificate of IoT Technology, marking the formal transfer of IoT equipment by IOFS and ICESCO to KazNARU. This technology will play a crucial role in enhancing research capabilities and supporting practical applications in precision farming.
The conference also featured a keynote session by Prof. Dr. Muazzam Ali Khan Khattak from Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan, who provided theoretical and practical insights into the deployment of IoT sensor networks in agriculture. His presentation emphasized the benefits of real-time data monitoring and its application in improving resource management and crop yields.
An interactive session facilitated collaboration and knowledge-sharing among participants, focusing on identifying challenges, exploring solutions, and discussing the development of policy frameworks to support smart agriculture. Insights from these discussions will contribute to a comprehensive policy paper on the use of smart technologies in agriculture, guiding future initiatives across the region.
The second day of the event will involve hands-on training with the newly acquired IoT equipment, offering participants practical experience in setting up and managing sensor networks for agricultural applications. The project aims to optimize resource use, enhance soil health, and mitigate climate-related risks, providing a model that can be replicated across other OIC member states.
The initiative is set to run for 13 months, with the first data collection results expected by mid-2025. A final report detailing the findings and outcomes will be published in August 2025, providing critical insights into the potential of IoT technologies to revolutionize agriculture in Central Asia.
