FAO Regional Launch Event and Workshop on the Implementation of the OCOP Country Projects in Europe and Central Asia

FAO launched the Global Action on Green Development of the Special Agricultural Products (SAPs): “One Country One Priority Product” (OCOP) in September 2021 to address the current and recurring challenges of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition as well as to contribute to the development of smallholders and family farms, amongst other strategic objectives.

Subsequently, in July 2022, the OCOP Initiative has been launched in the Europe and Central Asia region. Over 200 stakeholders from Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia and other regions attended the meeting through different platforms. As of January 2023, 9 countries in the region have expressed interest to join the OCOP initiative and promote a total of 9 Special Agricultural Products (SAPs).

Within this framework, the sustainable value chain of the respective SAPs can play an essential role in ensuring food security and nutrition, more effective use of un-utilized resources, supporting farmers’ livelihoods and economic growth, and protecting the environment and biodiversity for present and future generations.

In November 2022, FAO launched the OCOP country projects by identifying the first-round demonstration countries to lead the implementation of the OCOP initiative at the country level and farmer’s fields. Uzbekistan is representing Europe and Central Asia to promoting sweet cherry.

To consolidate collaborative efforts for all OCOP potential project countries and facilitate the successful implementation of the OCOP initiative in all five regions, FAO is organizing a regional launch event and workshop on the implementation of OCOP country projects for each region. FAO regional launch event and workshop on the implementation of OCOP country projects in Europe and Central Asia will be organized in Tashkent, Uzbekistan during 2-3 May 2023.

Objectives

• Review the progress of OCOP implementation in the Europe and Central Asia Region.
• Exchange information and good practices in OCOP implementation.
• Identify major issues and challenges to be addressed.
• Discuss and agree on key actions to be taken.

The two-day event will feature also field visits to the sweet cherry orchards outside Tashkent for participants to demonstrate the varieties and management techniques.