LOCAL farmers forced to branch out after the twin disasters of BSE and foot-and-mouth have been advising their foreign counterparts how to survive economic hardship.

East met West yesterday when delegates from the central Asian country of Uzbekistan visited Gwilliam's Farm Shop in Ombersley Road for advice on diversification.

The former Soviet state relies heavily on agriculture, with around a third of national wealth coming from farming.

Its market, which had mainly relied on supplying cotton to Moscow, has stagnated since the break up of the USSR.

Now with advice from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and practical experience gained across the region, other methods of farming are being introduced.

"Uzbekistan is dependent on farming, but now the demand for cotton has dropped they need to diversify," said Steven Wright, an EU team leader carrying out regeneration work in the country.

"They are now looking towards handicrafts, food processing and working with angora wool as other means of generating income."

The visitors saw how staff at Gwilliam's farm shop run a successful store, offering home-grown produce, to help generate an extra income.