Astana, Kazakhstan – [4 April 2024] – The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) announces the commencement of a significant initiative titled "Integrating Climate-Smart Agriculture into Food Security Policy Frameworks in Central Asia". This initiative is designed to fortify the agricultural sectors of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan against the adverse effects of climate change, thereby ensuring sustainable food security in the region.
The launch was officiated through an inaugural webinar conducted on the 4th of April, 2024, which witnessed the participation of an extensive consortium of stakeholders. This assembly included national policymakers, esteemed agricultural experts, representatives of science and academia, as well as international organizations. The primary goal of the webinar was to establish a collaborative foundation for the promotion and adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices across the nations of Central Asia.
The Central Asian region is disproportionately susceptible to the ramifications of climate change, notably affecting its water resources, agricultural productivity, and, consequently, the livelihoods dependent on these sectors. In light of these challenges, the IOFS's project endeavors to integrate CSA principles within national food security policies, thus bolstering the resilience and ensuring the sustainability of the agricultural sector across the region.
The main objective of the initiative is the empowerment of regional stakeholders through the dissemination of knowledge and the provision of tools necessary for the effective implementation of CSA practices. The project is poised to facilitate the development of a regional CSA policy framework, augment the capacities of policymakers through specialized training, and establish a Central Asian think tank to bolster regional cooperation on climate-smart agriculture and food security.
