Born in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Earned MS degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University in 2004, KS, USA, and Diploma with Honours in Finance and Accounting in Agricultural Enterprises in 1999 from Samarkand Agricultural Institute, Samarkand, Uzbekistan. At different times obtained working experience with the regional office of ICARDA in the Central Asia and Caucasus region; karakul sheep industry of Uzbekistan; USAID/Bearingpoint Uzbekistan; Leibnitz-Institute of Agricultural Development in the Central and Eastern Europe. Areas of expertise — small ruminant farm management; cost-benefit analysis; time-series analysis (specifically, ECM, TVECM); households survey; agricultural household model (land markets participation); food and water safety issues.
Married to Tamila Ramazanova with whom we have one son, Batyr Yakhshilikov.