World Bank Document

 
The World Bank 
Agriculture Modernization Project (P158372) 
Page 14 of 70 
Investments under this sub-component will be aligned with the strategic priorities set in the Agricultural Strategy. 
Investments under this sub-component are planned in the context of new steps being taken by GoU to revive public 
research institutions, including the provision of long-term budgetary financing. Expected focus areas for support include 
applied research on agro-ecological zone-specific climate-smart agricultural (CSA) technologies, irrigation technologies 
that reduce energy use, crop diversification, increasing climate resilience of the agriculture sector, conservation and 
utilization of germplasm
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, increase in the supply of improved agricultural technologies (including variety breeding), and 
facilitation of technology transfer. Unique genetic materials of Uzbekistan will be preserved for future generations, 
through modernization of the National Gene Bank, and for technology generation suitable for local agroecology. 
Improvement of agricultural technologies will pay attention to development of drought-resistant and climate-resilient 
crop varieties and climate-smart farming practices for a range of agricultural products. Technology transfer will focus on 
disseminating tested technologies through advisory and extension services. 
25. 
Institutions being supported under this component are expected to undertake a comprehensive functional and 
human capacity assessment to be financed under this project. Subsequently, each will prepare a strategic action plan, 
which will detail specific goals and target of relevance, actions proposed and a monitoring and accountability framework. 
The strategic action plan will describe pragmatic measures to increasingly involve the private sector – which is currently 
weak or not present in these areas – as appropriate. Finally, the action plan will be accompanied by a human resource 
development plan, which will identify skills gaps and other learning needs, and steps to be taken to help the institutions 
re-orient themselves to their revised goals and targets and institutional strategies to achieve them. These assessments 
and plans will underpin the support to be provide under this project to these institutions.
26. 
Main elements of support under this sub-component will be the financing for: (i) human resource development, 
including training on climate mitigation and adaptation approaches, workshops, seminars, conferences, and experience 
sharing (exchange) visits; (ii) construction (of new), rehabilitation/renovation (of existing), and refurbishment (of both 
new and existing) infrastructure
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for administration and research, including laboratories, offices, storage facilities
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, 
green and glass houses, lath houses, gene bank, and horticulture innovations center; (iii) upgrade of irrigation 
infrastructure/facilities on research farms that would reduce energy use; (iv) establishment and/or upgrading of 
information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure; (v) establishment and/or strengthening of 
demonstration plots and demonstration orchards and greenhouses; (vi) procurement of laboratory equipment, reagents, 
field equipment, farm machineries, and vehicles that would be energy efficient; and (vii) procurement (acquisition) of 
germplasm.