📋 Tender Overview
Project Name
Climate Resilient Pasture Management Project
Project Number
57079-002
Country / Economy
Uzbekistan
Project Status
Proposed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance
Loan
Source of Funding / Amount
Loan: Climate Resilient Livestock Development Project
Concessional ordinary capital resources lending US$ 60.00 million
Sector / Subsector
Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Livestock
Gender
Effective gender mainstreaming
Description
The project is aligned with ADB's Country Partnership Strategy for Uzbekistan (2019-2023): (i) supporting private sector development; and (ii) reducing economic and social disparities by promoting rural development.
The project will help the Government of Uzbekistan (GOU) to achieve its climate actions set in its Updated Nationally Determined Contribution report, including (i) reducing GHG emission intensity by 35% below the 2010 level in 2030; (ii) improving water management system; (ii) expanding forest areas; (iii) restoring degraded pastures and introduce sustainable pasture management mechanisms.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
Livestock plays a critical role in Uzbekistan's national food security and rural livelihood, making it a strategically important sector for the government. The sector provides 90% of domestic animal-protein consumption and employs 27% of the agricultural workforce. Livestock accounts for 45% to 67% of farming households' income.
Small-scale farms (dekhans) account for an overwhelming share of livestock production.a Dekhans are responsible for 94% of the country's beef cattle, 95% of dairy cattle, and 83% of goat and sheep. Cattle farming is prominent in the Samarkand and Qashqadaryo Regions, while Navoi Region and Republic of Karakalpakstan have a strong tradition of sheep and goat farming.
Dekhan livestock production is characterized by low productivity with a strong emphasis on beef production. The live weight of dekhans' beef cattle at slaughter averages 350 kilogram (kg), significantly below the achievable average of 560 kg in local intensive farms. Similarly, the average yield of dairy cattle is 2,600 liters per year, far below the potential of 6,100 liters in local intensive farms.c The low productivity is mainly due to feed constraints, which are expected to worsening climate change impacts such as water shortage, shrinking pastures and crop land due to desertification and salinity. Increase in temperature and pathogen prevalence can further deteriorate livestock health and productivity.
Consequent to the low livestock productivity, Uzbekistan resorts to importing 26,900 tons of beef and 22,300 tons of dairy products in 2022.d With rising income and a population that grows at 2% per year, the demand for animal protein is expected to increase significantly, which will worsen Uzbekistan's food security.
The Uzbek livestock sector is also characterized by high carbon intensity, which is defined as
