Nukus, Uzbekistan, September 20, 2023 – The Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction of the Republic of Karakalpakstan hosted the signing ceremony of an implementation note on joint capacity–building measures within the “Green Rehabilitation Investment Project for Karakalpakstan Republic to Address Impacts of the Aral Sea Crisis” (Aral Sea GRIP), GGGI project funded by KOICA. 

The agreement signing ceremony was held between GGGI, the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Monocenter of Nukus. 

Together, GGGI and the Ministry will select 20 participants (5 each from Kegeyli, Bozatow, Chimbay and Karauzyak) who are eligible for government greenhouse subsidies, to participate in the Monocenter training on greenhouses this autumn. The Monocenter’s curriculum has been supplemented with GGGI’s materials on climate change in the Aral Sea region, and how greenhouses can help adapt to the consequences. The organization representatives also discussed how to improve and upscale the climate change adaptation greenhouse trainings, for instance by implementing the training at the Monocenter in Chimbay.

Dr. Aaron Russell – GGGI Uzbekistan Country Representative, Sagyndyk Turmanov – Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Daulet Shynnazarov – Director of the Nukus Monocenter, Markhabay Nurmanov – Head of the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, as well as the GGGI Nukus office team want to make it easier for smallholder farmers to extend their vegetable growing seasons. 

Earlier, GGGI had already installed drip irrigation in the greenhouse of the first Monocenter in Nukus in May 2023. GGGI looks forward to support future expansion of its partnership with this important training center.