BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. Uzbekistan and
the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are assessing the
economic potential of growing amaranth and other crops on saline
agricultural land in Karakalpakstan as part of efforts to restore
soil productivity and improve farming efficiency on Sept. 28.


This was reflected in the statement by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of
Agriculture, following a meeting between officials from the
ministry and JICA representatives to review progress under the BLUE
PROJECT, which focuses on developing agricultural solutions for
saline soils in the Karakalpakstan region.


The project has supported research into Bio-Saline Agriculture
technologies, including the development of approaches for farming
on salt-affected land. Research has also focused on registering new
crop varieties and assessing the potential for growing Amaranthus,
commonly known as amaranth.


The next stage will focus on determining whether these crops are
economically viable for farmers and local communities. The
assessment will examine production costs, expected revenues and the
potential economic benefits for agricultural producers and
residents.


“The economic assessment will help determine whether amaranth
and other promising crops can provide a viable option for farmers
and local communities in saline areas,” the Ministry of Agriculture
said.







If the research confirms the economic feasibility of growing the
crops, the project team plans to work with Uzbekistan’s National
Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) to introduce
the technologies into agricultural practice and expand their
use.


The initiative is focused on addressing challenges associated
with saline soils, which can limit agricultural productivity and
reduce the range of crops that can be grown effectively. Developing
suitable cultivation technologies could provide farmers with
additional options for using affected agricultural land.


The cooperation with JICA also combines scientific research with
an economic assessment, allowing the project partners to evaluate
not only the agronomic performance of new crops but also their
potential costs and returns before considering wider
implementation.