On May 14, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on measures to expand industrialized intensive orchards across the country’s regions.
Uzbekistan is consistently implementing measures to develop fruit and vegetable cultivation, expand the production of export-oriented products, and increase rural incomes. Today, the country has 572,600 hectares of orchards and vineyards, generating annual exports worth $1 billion and providing a source of income for 882,000 people.
It was emphasized that amid limited land and water resources, growth in the sector should be ensured not only through the expansion of cultivated areas, but also by increasing yields and profitability per hectare. Uzbekistan aims to raise food exports to $10 billion by 2030, with the expansion of intensive industrialized horticulture expected to become an important factor in achieving this goal.
The meeting reviewed the condition of existing orchards and vineyards. Currently, 61,000 hectares of outdated orchards and 18,000 hectares of low-yielding plantations require renewal.
Over the next two years, it is planned to establish 168,000 hectares of industrialized orchards and vineyards. This is expected to attract $2 billion in investment and create 258,000 jobs.
To finance and provide practical assistance for such projects, nine commercial banks will be assigned to the regions. The banks will provide agro-technical, financial, and organizational guidance for the projects over a two-year period.
Entrepreneurs will also be able to use Islamic financing instruments to acquire water-saving technologies, fruit tree seedlings, and agricultural machinery.
The President ordered officials to renew old and inefficient orchards, develop specific projects for the establishment of industrialized orchards, as well as expand export-oriented varieties, agri-logistics, and processing capacities in each region.
