Assessment of the

7. RECOMMENDATIONS 
The proposed ALC project describes agriculture “clusters” in the growing regions which will focus on 
financing, training, equipment and energy toward strengthening the Integrated Cold Chain (ICC) 
components (Links). The ICC links (in process order) are: 
• In-field sorting 
• In-field pre-cooling or transfer to a pre-cooling facility 
• Grading, sorting, washing, waxing, packaging, and additional value-added services conducted in a 
refrigerated processing center.
• Cold Storage/handling
• Transfer via refrigerated transportation to export market, or 
• Forward linked to distribution facilities (domestic market) 
• In addition to these links, consideration must be given to increasing logistical needs such as 
supporting the development of manufacturing and assembly of plastic crates, wooden crates, pallets, 
corrugated boxes, and access to equipment 
Based on this understanding of the infrastructure requirements at the various links within an Integrated 
Cold Chain, the WFLO recommends the following actions for consideration by GoU in the 
implementation of the ALC vision. 
7.1 RECONSIDER ALCS AS A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR PRODUCE HANDLING & DISTRIBUTION 
Currently, the ALC concept is being considered as a ‘one-stop shop’ for all logistics and handling for 
export-oriented horticulture. However, this is not aligned with international best practice, where various 
handling and processing procedures are disaggregated. Therefore, the GoU should consider the following: 

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USAID.GOV ASSESSMENT OF REGIONAL AGRI-LOGISTICS CENTERS IN UZBEKISTAN | 28 
● Physically separate the individual links of the ICC from the market center, allowing multiple 
facilities related to each of these links to work as “clusters” where they will have the greatest 
impact in the various districts of the growing regions, and expand this infrastructure naturally as 
economic conditions allow.  
● Remove the “dirty” post-harvest activities (e.g., rinsing/cleaning, grading, sorting, packaging, pre-
cooling, etc.) activities from the ALC. During the field trip, WFLO experts explained that, primarily 
for sanitation considerations, this separation of functions is standard operations in most developed 
markets. It was further noted that in Spain and France, these activities were not present. Those 
ALC were domestic-facing as opposed to export-facing, and furthermore, they received only 
finished goods product, not raw products.