Uzbekistan has significant potential in agriculture. Over the past three years, 250,000 hectares of land previously used for cotton and grain crops have been repurposed for cultivating food crops. A total of 160,000 hectares of new orchards and vineyards have been established, and old plantations on an area of 107,000 hectares have been renewed. Additionally, 1,500 food industry projects with a total value of $1 billion have been launched.

Agricultural reforms have received international recognition. This month, Uzbekistan was elected as a member of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This opens up broad opportunities for advancing national and regional initiatives and attracting additional investments.

Our products are highly valued abroad for their natural quality and excellent taste, which have helped establish the “Made in Uzbekistan” brand. The country holds leading positions worldwide in the export of dried plums, apricots, peaches, raisins, cherries, and legumes.

In the first six months of the current year, food exports increased by 44 percent, reaching $ 1,326 million. The geography of exports expanded to 16 new countries.

At the same time, the global situation is becoming increasingly unstable, with climate anomalies becoming the norm. Under such conditions, every export market is of great importance.

However, existing opportunities are not being fully used everywhere. For example, the growth rates of food exports from Surkhandarya, Tashkent regions, and Karakalpakstan lag behind other regions. Navoi region was unable to reach last year’s figures. In 21 districts, exports did not even reach 70 percent of the previous year’s level.

In addition, this year, 80 percent of fruit and vegetable exports have been directed to just five countries. Exports to high-demand countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Japan, India, and Qatar remain low. Insufficient activity by Uzbekistan’s diplomatic missions and trade representatives abroad was noted.

At the meeting, these shortcomings were analyzed, and measures were identified to increase the efficiency of agriculture and expand exports. This was highlighted as a key direction for ensuring the country’s economic security. The need to grow crops resistant to climate change and drought was emphasized.

Based on the analysis, additional reserves and opportunities for export were identified for each region.

Due to outdated working methods, 75 percent of last year’s fruit and vegetable exports took place between May and October, when the global market is already saturated. To ensure year-round supplies and sell at higher prices, it is necessary to develop product processing.

For example, advanced entrepreneurs have begun using shock-freezing technology for cherries to sell them in winter. In addition, in the face of insufficient domestic production, they engaged in import and re-export. In this regard, the need to increase the production of export-oriented products, especially cherries, was emphasized.

This year, 16 modern packaging enterprises have been launched. However, this is not enough. Only 18 percent of exported products have modern packaging. It was set as a task to launch an additional 15 such enterprises by the end of the year.

One of the most significant export resources is legumes. Each year, the export of beans, mung beans, chickpeas, and millet amounts to $450 million. However, due to a shortage of labor, up to 30 percent of the harvest is lost, reducing export potential.

In developed countries, farmers harvest legumes using specialized combine harvesters. Therefore, it was decided to allocate subsidies covering up to 15 percent of the cost of such equipment and to compensate part of the interest rate on loans exceeding 10 percent.

To reduce transportation costs, processed products can now be exported from any customs checkpoint.

Today, the creation of new orchards and the renewal of existing ones require 350 million high-yield seedlings in demand on foreign markets. In 16 districts, Agrostar companies have been established to initiate work on seed cultivation, seedling production, and fertilizer manufacturing.

It was instructed to build in vitro laboratories for the Agrostar companies, as well as modern agricultural complexes equipped for storage, packaging, sorting, and processing of products.

Today, the total greenhouse area in the country amounts to 5,100 hectares, and the volume of products grown has increased from 110,000 to 546,000 tons over the past seven years.

However, due to heavy credit burdens, high fertilizer prices, and unstable gas supplies, more than 600 hectares of greenhouses have ceased operations, and 128 hectares have been transferred to bank ownership because of debts.

To support greenhouses, it was decided to ensure guaranteed gas supplies during the winter period for farms that commit to exporting their products. Additionally, greenhouses that have switched to coal or alternative fuels and have export obligations will be allowed to return to gas heating.

To ensure working capital, prepayment for gas during the period from October to March will be set at 50 percent. Contracts with gas enterprises must be concluded by October 1.

The repayment terms for loans taken by greenhouses that have switched to coal or alternative fuels will be extended. When establishing greenhouses with heat pumps, up to 20 percent of the costs or 4 percent of the loan interest rate will be reimbursed.

Starting this year, all greenhouses, regardless of category, will pay land tax at the agricultural land rate. Until 2028, the social tax rate for greenhouse workers will be reduced from 12 percent to 1 percent.

The Tax Committee has been instructed to analyze the efficiency of gas use redirected from greenhouses to other industries. If low value-added production is identified, the gas will be returned to the greenhouses.

A separate task has been set to finally resolve the issues related to the negative environmental impact of greenhouses in Tashkent region.

Currently, water-saving technologies are being applied on 224,000 hectares, which has saved 420 million cubic meters of water and enabled the additional use of 65,000 hectares of land. This year, 1.2 trillion UZS have been allocated for this purpose.

By the end of the year, it is planned to further introduce drip and sprinkler irrigation on 10,000 hectares and carry out laser leveling of 200,000 hectares of land.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has been instructed to ensure the financing of these works and to form a budget of 2 trillion UZS for the next year.

As is known, laws on planting crops along field margins and on agricultural cooperation were recently adopted. The adoption of the new Water Code is also an essential step toward ensuring food security in conditions of water scarcity. It was emphasized that it is advisable to continue work on strengthening legislative measures to increase the income of the agricultural sector, stimulate exports, and introduce advanced standards.

The government has been instructed to establish a permanent dialogue with exporters, greenhouse owners, and fruit and vegetable producers, as well as to promptly identify and resolve all issues and problems arising in their interactions with government agencies.

At the meeting, reports were also heard from responsible officials, and successful examples of entrepreneurs who have achieved high results in the export and production of agricultural products were reviewed.