New phase of agricultural reform outlined

On September 6, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on the priority tasks of agricultural development in 2020-2030. Uzbekistan has great potential in the agricultural sector. Success in resolving many socio-economic issues – from abundance in the markets and prosperity on the table to providing additional income from exports – depends on the development of this industry.

At the meeting it was said that Uzbekistan has great potential in the agricultural sector, but for a long time there was no market approach and material interest in this area, funds and scientific innovations were not attracted. Earth “overworked”, soil fertility decreased.

But for a long time this area has not been given due attention. There was no market approach, attitude to land as a source of income. Not attracted funds, scientific innovation. As a result of this, the land “overworked”, and soil fertility decreased. There was no product processing system, no value chain.

The President set the task to bring reforms in the industry to a new level, with an eye to the long term. To this end, an agricultural development strategy for 2020-2030 is being developed, which is designed to become the main point of growth, the driver of the economy. Thousands of new jobs will be created, people’s incomes will increase.

The main directions of the strategy

Full updating of the legislation to ensure transparency of the land allocation system, its inviolability, guaranteed protection of land rights, introduction of the concept of responsible attitude to land into legal circulation.

Keeping accurate records of agricultural land and improving their use. The State Committee for Land Register and Cadastre was instructed to complete an inventory of land in the country by the end of 2021 and create a unified electronic database.

Increasing the efficiency and keeping records of water use, the introduction of water-saving technologies on 200 thousand hectares of land each year. Today, only 60% of the water used for irrigation of crops reaches the fields, the rest is lost in irrigation systems and in the irrigation process.

Budgetary funds should primarily be used to increase the fertility of land, the introduction of water-saving technologies and the development of science.

Increasing the export potential of the sector and increasing the volume of procurement of value-added products. In Uzbekistan, products worth $ 300 are grown on 1 ha of land, in Turkey – for 2000, in Egypt – for 8000, in Israel – 12 thousand dollars. By 2030, export is planned to be increased to $ 20 billion from $ 2.3 billion in 2018.

Implementation of a product certification system according to the standards of the European Union, East Asian countries and the Arab world. Priority will be given to the selection of fruit tree varieties.

Improving the efficiency of the use of personal land, the introduction of logistics and local cooperation based on the principle of “one mahalla – one product”, the unification of small producers in cooperatives, ensuring uniformity of production.

Expanding the range of services in the field of delivery of mineral fertilizers, equipment and others on the basis of public-private partnerships and the organization of private enterprises.

Full completion by the end of 2020 of space sounding work begun this year, which will make it possible to give a reliable assessment of the real state of land and crops

Improving the system of agricultural statistics, the introduction of digital technology in all processes from the placement of crops to the sale of finished products.

Training of qualified personnel and the development of agricultural science. Seven specialized universities annually graduate more than 3000 young people, but in the regions there are not enough personnel. There is no integration of science, education and production.