Proposals for the development of new lands and the advancement of agricultural science were presented

On February 9, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation of proposals for developing new lands for agriculture and taking scientific research in this field to a new level, the press service of the head of our state reports.

As a result of irrigation and reclamation work over the past five years, 826,500 hectares of land have been brought into agricultural use. Of this, 409,000 hectares are irrigated, while another 418,000 hectares were developed through the use of groundwater in rainfed and pasture areas, as well as the cultivation of low-water-use crops.

The presentation presented plans for developing and improving the condition of an additional 938,000 hectares of pastures by 2030.

For example, 620,000 hectares of pastures are planned to be restored in 2026-2027. Specifically, pasture crops will be planted on 300,000 hectares, and water wells will be installed on 130,000 hectares. This will create the capacity to graze 960,000 head of small cattle, as well as increase meat and wool production.

It was noted that when developing new lands, work should be organized with the specific investor and project in mind for each region.

It was emphasized that the time has come to transform the existing institutional infrastructure of agricultural science and elevate it to a new level. To this end, it is planned to merge 22 research centers, 260 laboratories, and more than 2,500 scientists and researchers into a single structure – the Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

The presentation proposed prioritizing the following areas for the academy’s activities: biotechnology and molecular biology, genetic engineering and hybrid seed production, smart agriculture, space and drone technologies, land degradation and soil health, organic agriculture and food security, veterinary medicine, and digital agriculture.

Measures for the effective organization of the academy’s activities were identified.

Particular attention was paid to training personnel for agriculture. It was noted that 13,600 students are currently studying at Tashkent State Agrarian University, but due to the weak connection between education and practical work, only 55 percent of graduates work in their field.

In this regard, the objectives were identified for creating a system that seamlessly links education, research, and production, as well as for training qualified specialists who meet labor market requirements.

Specifically, 6,800 university students will undergo internships in manufacturing organizations, enterprises, and agricultural clusters, while more than 2,600 will work at 22 research institutes within the Ministry of Agriculture.

Furthermore, it is proposed to enroll children of farmers and their workers who do not score the required number of points on the entrance exams at the university under a reduced contract, and to reduce the length of study in seven educational programs from four to three years. Students will also be trained to become tractor drivers and to operate agricultural drones.

The activities of the Agency for the Development of Agro-Industrial Complex were reviewed.

Last year, intensive and industrialized orchards and vineyards were established on 44,000 hectares of inefficient land, creating 37,000 jobs.

The orchards and vineyards established on these lands will begin yielding crops in 2027, enabling the export of fruit and vegetable products worth $660 million annually. For example, in Sokh, apples, raspberries, and apricots are planted on 500 hectares; in the Termez district, apricots and peaches are grown on 164 hectares; Avatar grapes are grown on 309 hectares in the Akhangaran district; on 550 hectares in Bulungur; and on 60 hectares in Kuva. In the Pap district, peach and plum plantations have been established on 504 hectares.

It was noted that, as a continuation of this work, by 2026, it is necessary to create 25,500 hectares of orchards and 5,000 hectares of vineyards, creating 48,000 permanent and seasonal jobs.

Our country imports seedlings worth $60 million annually. It was noted that all the conditions exist for their local production according to European standards.

To this end, the agency has created a collection of over 200 virus-free, high-yielding parent fruit varieties. To propagate these seedlings and ensure supplies to all regions, complexes consisting of in vitro laboratories and parent nurseries are being established on 50 hectares in the Bektemir district and 75 hectares in the Yukorichirchik district. These complexes are to be operational by the end of the year and ensure the production of 27 million seedlings per year.

Following the discussion, the President of our country gave relevant instructions to the responsible officials.