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EMBASSY NEWS

Farmers Showcase the Finest Fruits of the Season

12/07/2012
The extensive variety of peaches in Quvasay tasted as good as they looked! (U.S. Embassy photo)

The extensive variety of peaches in Quvasay tasted as good as they looked! (U.S. Embassy photo)

Sobrijon was proud to present his “seedless” variety of pomegranate. (U.S. Embassy photo)

Sobrijon was proud to present his “seedless” variety of pomegranate. (U.S. Embassy photo)

This summer harvest season, USAID’s Agricultural Linkages Plus (AgLinks Plus) project organized another annual showcase of the finest fruits in Uzbekistan. Farmers gathered at six fruit variety contests in different regions of the country to show off their produce and to share and learn about new cultivating techniques. AgLinks Plus’ strategy of combining training courses with networking among the participants creates valuable opportunities to share lessons learned and best practices. Past participants of USAID’s Horticulture Exchange Program, also organized by AgLinks Plus, use these events to stimulate lively debate and share their knowledge gained from agricultural training in the U.S.

One of the highlights of this year’s fruit variety contests was when a local Uzbek farmer, Sobirjon, presented a previously unknown “seedless” (the seeds are so soft that they are not noticeable) variety of pomegranate at the 2012 Pomegranate Variety Contest in the Turakagan District of Namangan Province. Word of the 76-year old farmer’s contribution wowed contest participants and judges alike, not only for its "seedless" character, but also for its sweet taste. Sobirjon could retire, but instead he chooses to work his backyard orchard, saying, "I learned a lot during my long life and don't want to take all this knowledge to my grave; I want to pass it on to the younger generation."
At each of these regional variety contests, farmers competed with each other to demonstrate their expertise in growing the highest quality fruit varieties. Prizes were awarded for the following categories: best for processing, most unique and most marketable. The contests also provided farmers an opportunity to share knowledge with each other. For example, farmers from Ferghana traveled to the grape contest in Samarkand with a previously unknown variety of the popular “Lady Finger” grape, which won the contest for “best grape for the marketplace.”
The 2012 Peach Variety contest in the town of Kuvasoy, Ferghana Province attracted 31 peach farmers who presented more than a dozen varieties of peaches. Thirty-six grape farmers joined together at the 2012 Grape Variety contest in the Taylak District of Samarkand Province with more than 15 varieties of grapes. Farmers, researchers, processors and local officials interested in identifying the best apricots in the region attended the 2012 Apricot Variety contest in the Pop District of Namangan Province in the Ferghana Valley. AgLinks Plus also supported similar events for apples, persimmons and pomegranates.

This summer harvest season, USAID’s Agricultural Linkages Plus (AgLinks Plus) project organized another annual showcase of the finest fruits in Uzbekistan. Farmers gathered at six fruit variety contests in different regions of the country to show off their produce and to share and learn about new cultivating techniques. AgLinks Plus’ strategy of combining training courses with networking among the participants creates valuable opportunities to share lessons learned and best practices. Past participants of USAID’s Horticulture Exchange Program, also organized by AgLinks Plus, use these events to stimulate lively debate and share their knowledge gained from agricultural training in the U.S. 

One of the highlights of this year’s fruit variety contests was when a local Uzbek farmer, Sobirjon, presented a previously unknown “seedless” (the seeds are so soft that they are not noticeable) variety of pomegranate at the 2012 Pomegranate Variety Contest in the Turakagan District of Namangan Province. Word of the 76-year old farmer’s contribution wowed contest participants and judges alike, not only for its "seedless" character, but also for its sweet taste. Sobirjon could retire, but instead he chooses to work his backyard orchard, saying, "I learned a lot during my long life and don't want to take all this knowledge to my grave; I want to pass it on to the younger generation."

At each of these regional variety contests, farmers competed with each other to demonstrate their expertise in growing the highest quality fruit varieties. Prizes were awarded for the following categories: best for processing, most unique and most marketable. The contests also provided farmers an opportunity to share knowledge with each other. For example, farmers from Ferghana traveled to the grape contest in Samarkand with a previously unknown variety of the popular “Lady Finger” grape, which won the contest for “best grape for the marketplace.”

The 2012 Peach Variety contest in the town of Kuvasoy, Ferghana Province attracted 31 peach farmers who presented more than a dozen varieties of peaches. Thirty-six grape farmers joined together at the 2012 Grape Variety contest in the Taylak District of Samarkand Province with more than 15 varieties of grapes. Farmers, researchers, processors and local officials interested in identifying the best apricots in the region attended the 2012 Apricot Variety contest in the Pop District of Namangan Province in the Ferghana Valley. AgLinks Plus also supported similar events for apples, persimmons and pomegranates. 

Ambassador George Krol and Lisa Goodgame sample a variety of pomegranates in Ferghana Valley. (U.S. Embassy photo)

Ambassador George Krol and Lisa Goodgame sample a variety of pomegranates in Ferghana Valley. (U.S. Embassy photo)

Judging at the AgLinks+ Apricot Variety Contest. (U.S. Embassy photo)

Judging at the AgLinks+ Apricot Variety Contest. (U.S. Embassy photo)