LocationsUNDP Strengthens Agricultural Service System for Farmers of the Aral Sea Region
September 3, 2025
Nukus, Karakalpakstan, August 28, 2025 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over mobile laboratory equipment to the Karakalpak Republican Center for Agricultural Services under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This initiative enables farmers in the Aral Sea region to make science-based decisions and adapt to climate change, transforming the agricultural service system and enhancing farmers' potential in one of the regions most affected by the climate crisis into a sustainable agroecosystem.
Currently, in the Aral Sea region, farmers face serious daily challenges: saline soils limit crop choices, unpredictable weather conditions disrupt planting plans, and lack of information about soil conditions leads to inefficient use of water and fertilizers. Until now, obtaining soil condition data required sending samples to laboratories and waiting weeks for results, making it impossible to respond promptly to changing field conditions.
According to Dr. Abdurashid Mirzambetov, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences and Associate Professor at the International Innovation Center for Aral Sea Basin (IICAS) under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the lack of access to modern diagnostic technologies severely limits the potential of local agriculture. The scientist emphasizes that without understanding the real state of soils, farmers work "blindly," leading to low yields and land degradation.
To address these challenges, the mobile laboratory changes this situation, allowing agricultural center specialists to obtain a complete picture of soil conditions directly in the field within 15-20 minutes. The equipment includes a full set of tools for field diagnostics and effective sustainable farming. These tools show when plants need irrigation, preventing both drought and waterlogging. Soil analyzers instantly determine acidity, salinity, temperature, and nutrient content, allowing farmers to know exactly which crops are best suited for specific plots and when to plant them.
The delivered equipment transforms agricultural consulting from general recommendations into personalized scientific solutions for each hectare. Specifically, precise soil salinity determination technology addresses the critical problem of the Aral Sea region — specialists can create maps of problem areas and recommend the most suitable salt-tolerant crops and amelioration methods to farmers. Additionally, soil moisture monitoring helps conserve precious water, especially important under the region's water resource deficit conditions. As a result, farmers receive specific data on how much fertilizer to apply, when to irrigate, and which varieties to choose, increasing yields, reducing costs, and helping prevent further land degradation through early identification of problem zones.
As part of the project, specialists from the Republican Center for Agricultural Services have been trained in operating the mobile laboratory equipment, interpreting data, and developing recommendations for farmers. Local center specialists now possess advanced field diagnostics methods, significantly improving the quality of agricultural consulting services in the region.
"The mobile laboratory represents a long-term investment in the future of sustainable agriculture in the region. Precise diagnosis of soil and climatic conditions will enable farmers to improve product quality and meet international standards. This equipment gives us the opportunity to provide science-based, personalized recommendations for each plot based on comprehensive analysis of soil conditions and microclimate," noted Mr. B. Annakulov, Director of the Karakalpak Republican Center for Agricultural Services.
The initiative fully aligns with the Agricultural Development Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2020-2030. The mobile laboratory serves as the foundation for developing modern diagnostic methods in the region, providing farmers access to advanced scientific solutions and contributing to the creation of sustainable and productive agriculture in one of the world's most environmentally challenging regions.
This project is implemented within the framework of the UNDP project "Enhancing the resilience of local population and promoting green, inclusive development of the most vulnerable communities in the Aral Sea region," funded by the Government of the Russian Federation.
