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Success Story

Photo: WUASP

Nabi Arslanov and his family enjoy the new harvest of grapes in Pop Rayon of Namangan Oblast, Uzbekistan.

A USAID program introduces new techniques for growing fruits in Uzbekistan, helping generate higher incomes for rural families.

This year, farmer Nabi Arslanov in Pop Rayon of Namangan Oblast, southern Uzbekistan, produced 30% more grapes from his land than any year before thanks to a USAID program aimed at teaching Uzbek farmers new techniques for growing fruit.

Arslanov has been growing grapes for more than 30 years. Like other Uzbek farmers Arslanov let his grape vines spread on the ground and only lifted them during the harvest. His yields were steady, but never quite as high as he hoped they would be.

Then two years ago, farmers in Arslanov’s area began cooperating with the USAID program. The program set up demonstration fields to show new grape-growing technologies to the farmers. In the demonstration field, Arslanov saw how grapes are trained on trellises so that the air can ventilate the plants and the grapes can receive more sunlight, both critical components to successful grape production. The program also helped the farmers to install new water gates so that they can distribute water among the users more efficiently and optimize the irrigation of their fields.

Arslanov decided to try the new method in his two-hectare lot. Last spring, the USAID project provided Arslanov with 6,000 meters of steel wire and 100 poles, and Arslanov constructed trellises for his grapevines. As the grapes began growing, his family arranged the vines on the trellises so that the plants don’t lie on the ground. By the end of the season, Arslanov harvested 13 tons of grapes from his two hectares of land – over 30% more than any other year. He exported seven tons to Russia and sold the rest at the local market.

“I made almost $3,500 in profit, and used part of it to buy more trellises,” said Arslanov. “My family is very happy and very grateful to the program.”

Next year, Arslanov and other farmers plan to continue investing in improved technologies and irrigation water management to further increase their harvests and incomes, as well as their livelihoods.

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