INTERVIEW WITH DR. CHARLES MAY

 Q: Have you seen improvements in Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector during your short time here?

A:Certainly, the future for Uzbek horticulture is very bright.  First of all we see that the government of Uzbekistan is taking an increasing role in the development of the agricultural sector. Good examples of thisare the increased import of new varieties of fruit tree saplings and support for the development of cold stores. In addition, the government is investing in upgrading buildings and equipment at its agricultural universities, and the consolidation of the administrative functions of it agricultural research units.

 Q: What are the future perspectives? We know that you are quite a mentor of your staff. Where do you see them in 10 years?

A:  First of all, we received a no-cost extension for our project from July 31, 2011 until January 30, 2012. But we will effectively finish our activities by the end of 2011. And we have a lot of things to complete through December. The new crop season will start in January with the new USAID-funded Ag Links Plus project (ALPP), if it gets funded (it’s already been competitively bid). This ALPP is tasked to build on our successes and scale up from the 6 districts in which our pilot programs have been operating, as well as increase the number of demonstration sites. However, there will be significant competition for funds on worthy projects in the Central Asia region.  One will just have to wait and see.

As for our local staff, they are all professionals in the agricultural and water resource fields. They have received practical non-academic and/or academic training in the United States as well as other countries. I see them in the future getting involved in private agribusiness.  When we came to Uzbekistan in 2008 and started our project no other international donors or organizations worked extensively in the fruit sector. Most of these organizations, along with the domestic public and private sectors, are extremely interested because there is excellent growth potential in this area with resultant job creation possibilities and export growth.

Thank you very much for your time and for enlightening our AmCham readers on your successful Ag Links Project. We hope you have a very good finish and that the next Ag Links Plus Project will come along and build on the fine foundation in agricultural extension for the fruit industry which you have laid.

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