GoodGeist
A podcast on sustainability, hosted by Damla Özlüer and Steve Connor, brought to you by the DNS Network. Looking at sustainability issues, communications, and featuring global guests from a wide variety of sectors such as business, NGOs and government.
GoodGeist
Climate-Smart Agriculture, with Mahinakhon Suleymanova
Join us in conversation with Mahina Suleymanova, the Executive Director at Neskigol Mushovir, who is redefining the landscape of agriculture in Tajikistan through technology. We talk about her compelling journey from a software engineer to a leader in sustainable development.
Mahina shares her mission to combat the severe impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector, from tackling plant phenology changes and livestock heat stress to addressing the critical issues of glacial melting. She is spearheading innovative digital solutions aimed at strengthening the resilience of the agricultural value chain in a country where 64% of the population lives below the poverty line.
This episode highlights how Mahina's initiatives are not only enhancing agricultural practices but also empowering women in rural communities by challenging gender norms and working to bridge the digital divide. Have a listen!
Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place.
Good Geist, a podcast series on sustainability hosted by Damla Özler and Steve Connor, brought to you by the DNS Network.
Speaker 2:Hello, hello everyone, you are listening to Good Guys, the message on sustainability which is brought to you by the DNS Network, the global network of agencies dedicated to making the world a better place. This is Damla from Mira Agency, istanbul, and.
Speaker 3:This is Steve from Creative Concern in Manchester. This podcast series explores global sustainability issues, how they're communicated and what creativity can do to make positive change happen.
Speaker 2:So in this episode we're going to talk to Mahina Suleymanova, who is the Executive Director at Nexigol. Mishraweer, I hope I'm pronouncing it correctly. It's in Tajikistan. Correctly, it's in Tajikistan. Nexigol is a public organization targeting all actors of agricultural value chain, starting from input suppliers, farmers and processing companies up to relevant government agencies. This public organization is a part of Group Nexigol that assists small and medium enterprises and farmers to introduce new and innovative technologies.
Speaker 3:So we've got a bit of an agriculture theme developing at the moment, haven't we Damla? So Mahina is leading a team of software engineers and agronomists that develop digital solutions for agriculture. She's got knowledge in software architecture, design, knowledge management, communications and basically loads of different approaches to agriculture. So, mahina, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to Jamla and myself. First of all, mahina, tell us your story. You're a female tech leader using your skills for sustainable development in Tajikistan. Tell us how you got to where you are today.
Speaker 4:Yeah, hello, my name is Mahina. I'm from Tajikistan. I would like to confess something right away. Just over 25 years ago, I did something I regret, something I'm not proud of, something I wish no one knew about, but today I feel I have to disclose it. So in the late 90s, when I was young, I unwisely enrolled in the technology university to become a software engineer. Surprised, in fact, I have two passions in life, and these are digital technologies and agriculture. So I have a background in software engineering and I'm using my skills and knowledge to develop digital solutions for the agriculture sector. You know, software engineering is applied science that should be applied in some sector in medicine, education, construction, logistics, agriculture, etc. At first, I tried to apply software engineering in construction, then in education, but eventually settled on agriculture. My experience working at Google and Siemens, as well as my involvement in various internship programs programs, have helped me gain valuable experience and knowledge in developing technology solutions, and it so happens that I am today leading a team of software engineers and agronomists who develop digital solutions for agribusinesses.
Speaker 2:Well, Mahina, we can say that you were in the dark side and now you are in the light side. Welcome, making the world a better place. So shall we begin with the picture in Tajikistan. We know that Tajikistan is a mountainous country with diverse topography and is especially vulnerable to climate hazards. It is prone to earthquakes, floods, droughts, avalanches, landslides and mudslides, and the most vulnerable areas are the glacier-dependent river basins. And you are working in agriculture. These are all connected. Also, we know that there is a lot of vulnerability in the agriculture sector. So how is your agriculture sector affected in such a vulnerable status in the climate change?
Speaker 4:Unfortunately, kazakhstan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Tajikistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Climate change is reshaping the agriculture and hydrology, agroecology and hydrology of the country. Impact of climate change are already being felt in Tajikistan and they are expected to agriculture are change in plant phenology that are resulting in lack of feeling necessary to stimulate budding of fruit trees and bushes in some cases, but premature budding may result in frost damage. Phenological changes interfere with natural cycles of plant pollination.
Speaker 4:Climate change is producing heat stress and lack of fodder for livestock. Increased temperature and severe weather bring risks of damage for crops and spoilage of produce along the whole agricultural value chain. Climate change in the near and to mid-term includes rising temperature, more frequent and severe droughts, and changes in rainfall patterns. Risks in the mid to long include glacial melting and retreats. This produces floods as melting peaks and, as glaciers create, eventually, reduction of water resources available for Tajikistan development. So the government of Tajikistan is aware about this risk caused by climate change and it takes steps to respond. For example, it is demonstrated by its new green economy strategy, which is just launched.
Speaker 3:So, mahina, that's a brilliant sort of run through of your exposure to climate change in Tajikistan and quite profound, and my team at Creative Concern we've been working on a report recently for an organization called the Overseas Development Institute, and it looks at the intersection, the joining together of debt and poverty, how it then cascades through into being more exposed to climate risk, and how climate disasters actually reduce the ability of a country to respond to the climate crisis, and it basically creates this really difficult circle where the worst climate change, the worst climate change gets.
Speaker 3:The more exposed the country is, the worse the debt gets, and, according to World Bank statistics, tajikistan has a population where 64% of people are living under the poverty line, and that impinges on the country's emergency response to things like climate change, doesn't it? And so you're clearly a country that I am going somewhere positive with this question, by the way. You're clearly a country exposed to this, both on a human level, but also an ecosystem level both on a human level, but also an ecosystem level and what I'm really interested in is you're right in the space where you're developing innovative solutions to some of this, aren't you? What innovative solutions can be used to mitigate that level of vulnerability for Tajikistan and what are you doing in that space?
Speaker 4:So, if to talk about Nexigol, about my company, so to talk about NexiGo, about my company. We at NexiGo test innovative technologies for sustainable and climate-smart agriculture, adapt them to our country context and offer them to local farmers, as well as we implement projects aimed at digitalizing the agriculture sector. Agriculture sector Other projects, for example, include biogas production technology, introducing biogas production technology, microaggregation technology or vertical farming for enabling to grow ecological, clean, green food and fodder without soil. Other projects on digitalization agriculture sector, for example, sms-based agriculture earlier warning system. So all these projects we implement in close collaboration with our Minister of Agriculture, with the National, regional and District-State Authority of Tajikistan, since their execution is important for achieving objective of our Tajikistan National Development Strategy till 2030, contributing to adaptation to climate change, green economic development and digitalization of agriculture in our country.
Speaker 3:Wow, well, I was expecting maybe one or two solutions, Mahina, not a raft of them, but I'm very excited that you mentioned vertical farming, and I had no idea that you had vertical farming projects in Tajikistan. Could you tell us, very briefly, a little bit about that?
Speaker 4:So vertical farming is saying itself about the approach. It is vertical and we started with the first steps. We use vertical farmers to grow green fodder for livestock. Using vertical farmers, we are how to say vertical farmers, we are how to say increasing effectiveness of one square meter of land up to five, because it will be five levels in one place. And also we have started with growing green fodder because growing approach and methodology is very easier you should just sow seeds and it requires some irrigation regime which we can control with digital solutions. And this is all digital solutions, and this is all. After seven days, green fodder are ready to feed your cows, your sheep, your fish, your chickens and according to our calculations, it decreases seven times cost of feeding, the livestock Cost for the fod fathers, I mean.
Speaker 2:Wow, well, you just got into it a little bit, but I want to hear more, and not only what happens and what you do, but about your vision too, because agriculture is the most important thing when we are talking about climate change, in terms of human survival, of course. So how can digital solutions offer a solution and how can they just have it transform Tajik's agriculture? What do you think about digitalization and agriculture when you talk about them together in one sentence?
Speaker 4:Not in one sentence but let me tell a brief story, so I will never forget February 25th of 2021. A few days before, our team found that temperature sharp drop and snow was expected after relatively warm days Last that year, apricots and other fruit trees flowered very early in Tajikistan and, because of very earlier warmth, farmers has already managed to plant earlier vegetables. Especially a lot of potatoes were sold. While conducting a rapid survey, we recognized that most potato crops were not sold at the recommended depths, which could have reduced the risk, and these flaws originated to cause crop losses. Gardeners and farmers could suffer great losses and, if you think about possible damage for the country, tajikistan's threatened to lose its position in the apricot export market. After all, tajikistan ranks third place in the world for apricot exporting. With the help of our earlier warning system, we sent SMS alerts to about 25,000 farmers and SMS alerts to about 25,000 farmers. Our recommendation was simple Burn bunches of old hay and wheat remains under trees and cover potato crops with fields of manu. And what do you think the headlines in the media were the next day? Tajik farmers burn fires and cover plants with manure Fires in the garden, tajik farmers are saving their harvest, et cetera, et cetera. From such headlines, we understood that our messages were heard. Yes, it did not save all harvest, but it did save part of it.
Speaker 4:These alerts were possible because of applying digital solutions. Our SMS-based early warning system for agriculture allowed us to disseminate such SMS alerts to farmers about adverse and digital weather events, outage of pests, price of seeds and fertilizers, wholesale price of products, etc. It helped farmers to reduce risk related to weather and climate change, helps them to buy seeds and fertilizer and to sell their products, for example, to prevent this damage from low temperature during flowering of trees or heavy rainfall during the planting, etc. Trees or heavy rainfall during the planting, etc. Currently, uh sms based uh agricultural meteorological service cover 25 000 farmers in tajikistan, in my country. Yeah, next goal establishing cooperation with mobile apparatus of tajikistan to jointly implement the additional service for farmers. Thus, next year we plan to reach 200,000 farmers and in two, three years to increase this number up to 2 million farmers.
Speaker 3:This is Wow, that's epic Amina. Well, you started this podcast with an admission, a secret that you couldn't divulge. I'm going to share a secret with you, meena. I'm a massive geek, love data, love technology. So I'm absolutely loving this conversation and what you're doing. So I've got a question on digitalization and digital solutions. Actually, two questions. One is, more broadly what's your vision for digital solutions at creating a more sustainable and more just future for the world, actually, but also for Tajikistan? And also, do you find there are any challenges in digital infrastructure for you in delivering any of this? Do you have the infrastructure in Tajikistan to roll out to 2 million farmers the digital solutions you're already offering to 25,000?
Speaker 4:Actually, one of the how to say barriers, which is how to say keeping us from the massive extension or massive access to such digital solution for agribusinesses, is actually the low infrastructure in the rules. Yeah, I can say that 15 years ago, 20 years ago, tajikistan made good steps in bringing mobile phone services to the country, but these steps were slowed down. These steps will slow down and at the moment we have. One of the barriers for accessing digital solutions or applying digital solutions in agribusinesses in our country is the law of infrastructure development in rural areas and also a lack of access to the smart devices. Therefore, we are using SMS channels to reach each farmer in the remote villages Because, according to statistics, today in Tajikistan, almost every how to say more than 100% of population have access to the mobile phones, but it is a very simple model of phones which, of course, can receive sms but, for example, have not access to the internet.
Speaker 2:For your first questions, thanks and let's talk about the just transition part, because that always excites me. How do you think digitalization in agriculture per se can help a just and fair transition leaving no one behind?
Speaker 4:Absolutely. Digital solution can play a crucial role in facilitating a just and equitable transition to greener practices. I can bring some examples. For example, digital platforms can provide farmers with real data on weather patterns, crop management, sustainable practices, empowering them to make informed decisions, decisions, Online training programs and resources can educate individuals and communities about sustainable practices, promoting skills development that aligns with green transition goals.
Speaker 4:It provides access to education and training regardless of where you are, when you can study, and also significantly reduces the cost of training. Digital tools can improve resource management by optimizing water use, energy consumption, waste management through data analysis and smart technologies. After all, digital solutions can help to take away many barriers that women meet because of gender norms and roles in many rural societies, which often make a heavier burden on women in managing household duties, limiting their time and mobility to engage in decision-making, training or other opportunities for climate adaptation. But by leveraging these digital tools, we should promote inclusivity and ensure that the benefits of wind transition are shared widely, particularly among those who are most vulnerable. However, it is also essential to address digital divides to ensure that everyone has access to these solutions.
Speaker 3:Wow. Well, Damla, you've done it again. You've introduced me to somebody utterly amazing. So, Mahina, we're almost towards the end of the podcast sadly, actually, because I want to go back to vertical farming and fish and aquaculture as part of a vertical farming system Very fascinating, but I'm not going to ask that question. We'll go back there. What I wanted to ask you before we wrap up with our final question is what, from all of that you've been looking at and you've ranged there from everything from really practical solutions for addressing the climate crisis in agriculture through to the emancipation of women through technology, which is amazing what do you think all of these projects and the work you're doing on sustainable agriculture in Tajikistan can tell the world? What are the lessons that the rest of the world should be learning from Tajikistan?
Speaker 4:By learning from Tajikistan experience from Tajikistan. By learning from Tajikistan experience, other countries can better navigate their own climate challenges, fostering the resilience and sustainability in agriculture and beyond. For example, tajikistan resilience on Grecia Fed. Fed Review highlights the need for cooperative water management strategies that consider upstream and downstream needs. Adaptation of climate change and smart agriculture, such as crop diversification, sustainable irrigation techniques, etc. Can mitigate the risk and enhance resilience. Tajikistan has had to innovate under resource constraints, illustrating that low-cost, context-specific technologies can be effective. This approach can inspire other regions to leverage local resources and knowledge.
Speaker 2:Wow, I mean, you've already inspired me, mahina. I'm so, so glad that you were here. So our final question our network is ironically called Do Not Smile, because we need to make sustainability a subject that brings happiness into the world. What object, place or person always makes you smile?
Speaker 4:For me, it is hard not to smile at the sight of an exciting garden. The way people come together and cultivate plants, share knowledge, enjoy nature is uplifting. It symbolizes hope, collaboration and the potential for positive change. Each flower, vegetable and shared moments represents the joy of sustainability, the connection we can build while caring for our environment. It is a beautiful reminder of how small efforts can lead to a bigger smile in our communities.
Speaker 3:Well, that's the most beautiful finish we've had to a podcast. It finished with gardening, damla, which I'm sure you know in the UK. Here in the UK, gardening is pretty much one of the most important things in the whole nation, so it sounds like the UK and Tajikistan are completely on the same page. That was an amazing discussion, mahina. Thank you so much and Damla over to you.
Speaker 2:So thanks to everyone who has listened to our Good Guys podcast, brought to you by the Do Not Smile network of agencies.
Speaker 3:And make sure you listen to future episodes, where we'll be talking to some more amazing people like Mahina about how we can work together to create a more sustainable future. So see you, Damla, and see you Mahina.
Speaker 4:See you, both of you.
Speaker 1:Good Geist, a podcast series on sustainability Hosted by Damla Özler and Steve Connor, brought to you by the DNS Network.
