Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has provided rural women in Bostanlyk district with milk processing equipment, offering them access to modern technologies and new economic growth opportunities.

This initiative is part of the project "Leaving No One Behind: Promoting Greater Participation and Empowerment of Rural Women in Türkiye and Central Asia," which is implemented under the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Program (FTPP).

The equipment handover follows a series of practical workshops organized by FAO in the Bostanlyk district of Tashkent region. Participants of the workshops received training in home-based milk processing and learned to produce products such as yogurt, kefir, various types of cottage cheese, and feta. With the new knowledge and equipment, women will not only improve their families’ nutrition but also create stable sources of income, positively impacting their economic status.

The "Leaving No One Behind" project aims to support rural women in Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan. It provides women with the necessary knowledge and resources to improve their economic conditions, fostering the creation of businesses and cooperatives, and empowering them as agents of change in their communities.

"Women in agriculture play a crucial role, yet gender gaps continue to limit their opportunities, slowing down the entire sector’s development," notes Dano Abdurazakova, Senior Advisor at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and project leader. "FAO is not just providing training — we are equipping women with the tools to transform their lives and businesses. Through our workshop, participants have gained advanced skills and technologies and received the necessary equipment for milk processing. This support is not just assistance; it is a foundation for real change, strengthening their role in agribusiness and promoting gender equality, which contributes to the sustainable development of rural communities."

Milk production is a vital aspect of employment in rural households, contributing not only to economic growth but also to the improvement of rural families’ quality of life. FAO’s support plays a key role in enabling rural women to adopt new technologies and become full participants in agribusiness.

This project is part of FAO’s long-term strategy to promote gender equality and sustainable economic development in Central Asia. FAO will continue to actively support rural women, helping them become drivers of economic growth and leaders of change in their regions.