Ashraf AboArafe
* Uzbekistan has achieved high results and thanks to radical changes in the agricultural sector, carried out under the leadership of Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the country.
* Important components of success include the consistent introduction of innovations and advanced developments, modern achievements of science and technology into agriculture.
* Without establishing the scientific basis of agriculture, there will be no development in the field.
* Impressive results!
So, enterprising farmers in Uzbekistan, relying on many years of work experience and modern knowledge of scientists and tireless efforts, achieved impressive results in 2023. Villagers in harmonious communication with nature find a common language with it. Last winter was harsh and abnormally cold in Uzbekistan. In the spring there were heavy rains and hail, in the summer – heat and low water. This caused serious inconvenience to workers in the sphere.
However, thanks to the special attention of the state aimed at the growth and prosperity of agriculture, the benefits and preferences provided, farmers were able to achieve significant success in comparison with the previous year.
For example, this year Uzbek farmers raised a large amount of 3 million 800 thousand tons of raw cotton and 8.2 million tons of grain. Over 15 million tons of vegetables and melons, five million tons of fruits and grapes, and four million tons of potatoes were grown. Similar positive dynamics were also observed in other sectors.
* Stable development!
New mechanisms for financial support for agricultural producers have been introduced. In particular, livestock and greenhouse farms, cotton and textile clusters, and conditions have been created for the stable development of viticulture and winemaking, expanding the raw material base and export volumes, and providing the agricultural sector with modern resource-saving machinery and equipment.
* Apositive effect!
A radical reform of the sphere based on the achievements of science, the use of advanced agricultural technologies, and systems of financial incentives for agricultural production had a positive effect.
As a result of the adoption of large-scale measures aimed at solving key issues (increasing soil fertility, raising the fight against land degradation to the level of state policy, maintaining the sustainability of the ecosystem), productivity increases. In 2023, the condition of soils on an area of one hundred thousand hectares was improved: these lands were returned to cultivation, vegetables and orchards were planted on them.
In Uzbekistan thanks to the consistent implementation of modern scientific and innovative developments, the effective use of biological fertilizers and humus, soil fertility has increased, cotton yields have increased by 10 percent, grain crops by 20 percent, and vegetables and melons by 25-30 percent.
The population of our country is growing year by year.
In general, in 2023, about three million rural residents were provided with employment and received a source of income in the agricultural sector.
This year, in Uzbekistan fruit and vegetable processing capacity has reached 3.3 million tons per year, the number of agrilogistics centers has increased to 76, their total potential is almost a million tons of products.
In 2023 Uzbekistan supplied $1.5 billion worth of agricultural products to almost 80 countries around the world. Now the products from the fields of Uzbekistan are sold on all continents.
Currently, over 800 clusters operate in all areas of agriculture, in particular cotton growing, grain growing, vegetable growing, horticulture, livestock farming, and sericulture. In cotton growing, one hundred percent of production comes from clusters, in the production of vegetables and fruits – 60 percent. The cluster method of producing field and farm products is being improved year after year.
In short, these innovations in the system define new development horizons, which will make it possible in the coming year to achieve complete processing of cotton fiber within the country, the value of which will reach 9.6 billion dollars, and the export level will be 4.5 billion.
It is impossible to overestimate the role of agricultural machinery in the field; they say: “Technology is the wings of a farmer.”
This year, in order to increase the level of technical equipment in the sector, over 10.5 thousand units of highly efficient equipment worth 500 mln USD were supplied to clusters, farms.
As a result, it was possible to create opportunities to shorten the sowing season from 20 days to eight, harvesting grain crops from 30 to 16 days, and raising the plowed land in 20-25 days.
Thanks to the measures taken, for the first time in the history of New Uzbekistan, 25 percent of the harvest was harvested using machines.
So in the field of livestock farming, new systems have been created, and ample opportunities have been provided to farm workers by the state. This year, 70 thousand heads of breeding cattle, 180 thousand sheep and goats, and two million chickens were delivered to our country from foreign countries.
As a result of these measures, the number of improved purebred cattle in the republic was increased to 74 percent, the number of large livestock complexes in the regions reached 540 (although back in 2019 there were only 50). The abundance in markets and stores of meat and dairy products is the fruit of these efforts.
As in other industries, the state pays close attention to issues of digitalization in the agricultural sector. Last year, 10 new information and geographic information systems were introduced, which made it possible to increase the accuracy of information collected in the field.
Currently, the concern of the whole world, including Uzbekistan, is caused by the problems of climate change, and desertification.
To prevent these threats and increase soil fertility, the priorities are the uninterrupted supply of resource-saving and highly efficient equipment, the introduction of agricultural technologies based on the experience of developed countries, increasing the volume of agricultural production, improving the quality.
The only way to open up new opportunities, ensure added value and attractiveness of domestic agriculture is the widespread introduction of scientific achievements and innovations into the field, looking at every challenge from the point of view of emerging opportunities. I am confident that our hardworking and selfless farmers and agricultural scientists are fully capable of solving these honorable tasks.
