Calendar year flies quickly and the autumn is already in its full swing. It is time to catch up with the weather, nature, and its gifts. After all, autumn is so unpredictable. So gardeners and horticulturists have lots to do. While the weather is still sunny they need to harvest crops. This is not all: most importantly, it is necessary to prepare the land and garden for winter, so that they can stand severe frost without damaging for the spring season.

The practical seminars, with participation of more than 150 people from gardening farms, agro-companies and just gardening fans were organized in Namangan, Andijan and Fergana regions to improve knowledge and consolidate the skills of gardeners in autumn agriculture and preparation of the garden for winter, within the framework of cooperation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry and UNDP project “Enhancing the adaptation and strengthening the resilience of farming to Climate Change Risks in Fergana Valley“ implemented with the financial support of the Russian Federation, from 28^th to 30^th of October.

During seminars, participants recalled and learned how to help the land and garden to get rid of weeds, diseases and all the stresses they have experienced in the passing year. They have received detailed information about rules and doses of autumn feeding and safety rules, cutting and treatment conditions, plowing and watering methods. In addition, they were provided with recipes for systematic seasonal feeding and preparation of lime-sulfur decoction. The last one, for instance, allows to successfully deal with such dangerous diseases as scab, powdery dew, rot and it is useful to treat bark and sawn ends to prevent blackening and contamination with different fungi.

"When did you harvest the last yield? Did you do extra nutrition? How many times did you treat the soil? And why it important to prune in fall? The trainer of seminar Erkin Usmonkhodjayev conducted event interactive and asked the questions, thus spurring interest of the participants.  Based on these answers and recent examples from his practice, explained the significance of each stage of autumn preparatory works and what will be the consequences if – “did not have time”, "considered not important” and “I will leave for spring".

One of the participants of the seminar, Dehkonali Shomirzayev said, that "we, gardeners, know very well that the basis of the crop for the next year is laid in autumn. All the trainings held here were so clear so that each of us will use the information learnt here. After the seminar, I am sure that the most of us will immediately begin works on improving and strengthening our gardens".

In conclusion, while studying the experience of garden management, participants were able to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of the activities carried out, the success of the harvest, lessons learned and forward look.

UNDP activities in the field of modernization and intensive development of agriculture are carried in accordance with the Strategy of actions for development of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021, and as well as within the framework of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, accepted by the UN member countries.

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The project “Enhancing the adaptation and strengthening the resilience of farming to Climate Change Risks in Fergana Valley“ is carried out with the financial support from the Russian Federation.