Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 6, 2024 – Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Uzbekistan and the International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea basin (IICAS), signed an Agreement on Microgreens Training implementation to support women with disabilities under the leadership of GGGI Uzbekistan Country Representative, Dr. Aaron Russell, and the Director of IICAS, Mr. Bakhitjan Khabibullaev.
According to the Risk Profile, developed under ‘Green Rehabilitation Investment Project for Karakalpakstan Republic to address impacts of the Aral Sea crisis’ (Aral Sea GRIP),’ in the project districts, 76 % of residents live below the poverty line. When a household head is female, the percentage is higher at 80 %, while women with disabilities are even more vulnerable in that respect. Thus, the agreement between GGGI and IICAS aims to support 16 women with disabilities in Karakalpakstan to set up their own microgreen-growing businesses to improve their livelihoods in agriculture and build their climate-change adaptation capacity.
The training will be led by Ms. Gulzar Toreniyazova, a consultant at GGGI’s Jasilawil platform (a digital Business Development Platform produced under Aral Sea GRIP), with an expertise in agribusiness. Moreover, Ms. Toreniyazova has personal experience with microgreen production systems since she owns a successful small business on microgreen production, fully led by herself!
GGGI’s Aral Sea GRIP will support the microgreens training and the necessary equipment as well as provide introduction to Jasilawil platform, which will also come handy in their agribusiness path, especially the ‘Advisory’ section where the participants can receive consultations from qualified specialists in the field of agriculture and greenpreneurship, accessible though the app and the website. “This is an important step towards more inclusive sustainable agricultural development,” said Mr. Khabibullaev.
The agreement highlighted not only the importance of supporting women with disabilities but also the relevance of developing green innovation for sustainable future, accessible for everyone.
About the Areal Sea GRIP project:
The desiccation of the Aral Sea basin and its delta have resulted in the loss of agricultural potential, livelihoods and employment and have led to health challenges. These problems are expected to worsen due to the impacts of climate change. To effectively address these issues, GGGI is implementing ‘Green Rehabilitation Investment Project for Karakalpakstan Republic to address impacts of the Aral Sea crisis’ (Aral Sea GRIP)’ for three years (2021 to 2024), financed by KOICA (5.9 Million USD) and supported by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MEEPCC). The project supports communities of the four most disaster-afflicted districts of Karakalpakstan, Bozataw, Chimbay, Karauyzak and Kegeyli, with climate-smart measures to build sustainable livelihoods.
Find updates on the Aral Sea GRIP project: https://ggkp.org/aralseagrip
Read more about GGGI: https://gggi.org/