The German-Uzbek Expert Dialogue Programme focuses on developing sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture. The key emphasis is on fodder and seed production to enhance the productivity of the dairy sector. We support small and medium-sized farms as well as research institutes by providing consultancy, organizing training sessions, and conducting practical trials. Additionally, through dialogue with stakeholders, we help establish favorable policy frameworks for sustainable development.
We take pride in our international team of professionals with extensive experience in agriculture, fodder production, and sustainable development. Learn more about each of them.
Anton van Engelen graduated in 1983 from Wageningen Agricultural University the Netherlands with a MSc in Tropical Animal Production and Agronomy and a minor in Animal Nutrition. He has over 40 year’s experience in in rural development, smallholder livestock production, crop and forage production, animal health care, agribusiness, SME- and value chain development; He has extensively worked in project formulation, appraisal, management and evaluation for World Bank, FAO, IFAD, EU, ADB, Netherlands Government and a number of international consulting companies. After 16 years’ long-term assignments in Africa (Zimbabwe, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique) he started working as livestock and rural development consultant, based in the Netherlands. In 2008 he moved on a permanent basis to Central Asia, where he lived in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (home base) and now Uzbekistan. He combines a solid theoretical basis with world- and subject-wide experience gained in the course of his career in more than 38 different countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. He has participated in various sector studies and evaluations for WB, FAO and EU, of which reports can be found on-line. He has experience with the development of rural advisory services from a practical livestock management perspective. He has been project coordinator and team leader of various multi-cultural and international teams. He pairs this knowledge and this experience with practical farming skills, gained on the farms he ran in Tanzania and currently still in Kyrgyzstan (dairy goats with 6 ha for forage and grazing production). He holds a teaching certificate first degree and enjoys talking to groups during training/extension sessions. He speaks conversational Russian and is making an attempt at learning Uzbek, a precondition to be in direct contact with the many farmers, who don’t speak Russian.
Khandam Kilichevich Karshiboev is a highly accomplished agronomist and finance professional with over two decades of diverse experience spanning agricultural development, crop protection, finance, and consultancy. He holds multiple advanced qualifications in agronomy, grain/ technical/ forage/ vegetable crops, and finance from prestigious institutions such as Tashkent State Agrarian University and Tashkent Financial Institute. His career highlights include leading roles in international projects like the ASK Facility Project of the EU and the Uzbek-German Expert Dialogue for sustainable agriculture, where he contributed significantly to enhancing agricultural knowledge and innovation systems, strengthening seed quality standards, and developing training materials for sustainable practices. With a proven track record of driving sales growth, market analysis, and technical expertise in crop protection and seed production, Khandam has also built successful strategies in organizations like Syngenta Agro AG and New UPL. In his career, he worked from a technical specialist to the head of a representative office, had the opportunity to work with a group of farmers in his country, from the smallest householders to clusters, and in not only his country, but in different foreign countries, had the opportunity to meet with professional specialists and farmers to have and improve his knowledge and practice. Fluent in Uzbek, English, and Russian, he is dedicated to achieving excellence through teamwork, adaptability, and innovative problem-solving in international agricultural initiatives.
Saidakhmat Altayevich Sherimbetov graduated from the Tashkent Agrarian University with a Diploma on Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science in 1993 and ever since he has been as an agronomy researcher in Andijan Research Institute of Cereal and Leguminous Crops as well as an agronomist in both livestock and agricultural crop farms. He is also known as a local agronomy expert for international agricultural projects implemented by such renowned organizations as ICARDA and CIMMYT. At the dawn of his career he also had an extensive experience in accounting department of a collective farm. He speaks fluent Uzbek and Russian and can explain himself in English pretty well.
Bekzod Mukhiddin Ugli Bakhramov graduated from Samarkand Agricultural Institute (now Samarkand University of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Husbandry and Biotechnology) in 2017 majoring in zootechnics. Before becoming a Chief Specialist in the department of feed production and animal nutrition of the Veterinary Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan he had had experience of working at 1000-head cattle farm. In 2024, he graduated from the Tashkent State University of Economics, majoring in World Economy and International Economic Relations. In addition to Uzbek (mother tongue), he knows Russian and English
Although Abdimalik Saparaliyevich Kertaev has an academic background of English language translation and teaching, he has spent his almost entire adult life right in the middle of agriculture-related projects and programmes sponsored by the USDA, EU, World Bank, UNDP, MASHAV and now, the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food. He is fluent in Uzbek, Kazakh, Russian and English languages and planning to learn a couple other languages.
Abdugafur Mamaraimov holds a degree in Economics with Finance from Westminster International University in Tashkent and has pursued further studies in International Management at Pforzheim Business School. With a strong background in procurement, logistics, and contract administration, he has gained experience across industries such as construction, transportation, and manufacturing. He has successfully managed procurement strategies, supplier negotiations, and project coordination in international settings. His analytical mindset and structured approach allow him to optimize processes and improve efficiency. Abdugafur brings fresh perspectives and a results-driven approach to every project, ensuring smooth execution and effective stakeholder collaboration.
