President Mirziyoyev Reviews Plans to Expand Agricultural Lands and Reform Agrarian Science
Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: On February 9, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a comprehensive presentation outlining proposals to develop new agricultural lands and elevate scientific activity in the sector to a new level in Uzbekistan.
The presentation highlighted the results of irrigation and land reclamation efforts carried out over the past five years, during which 826.5 thousand hectares of land were brought into agricultural circulation. Of this total, 409 thousand hectares comprised irrigated land, while 418 thousand hectares were developed through the use of groundwater in rainfed and pasture areas, as well as the cultivation of low-water-consumption crops.
Plans were also presented to develop and improve an additional 938 thousand hectares of pastureland by 2030. Specifically, during 2026–2027, it is planned to restore 620 thousand hectares of pastures. Fodder crops will be planted on 300 thousand hectares, and water wells will be installed on 130 thousand hectares, creating grazing capacity for 960 thousand head of small livestock and increasing meat and wool production.
During the review, it was emphasized that the time has come to modernize the institutional framework of agricultural science. In this regard, it was proposed to consolidate 22 scientific centers, 260 laboratories, and more than 2,500 scientists and researchers into a unified structure — the Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The academy is expected to focus on priority areas such as biotechnology and molecular biology, genetic engineering and hybrid seed production, smart agriculture, space and drone technologies, soil health and land degradation, organic farming and food security, veterinary medicine, and digital agriculture. Measures to ensure the effective organization of the academy’s activities were also outlined.
Special attention was given to agricultural personnel training. It was noted that while 13.6 thousand students are currently enrolled at Tashkent State Agrarian University, only 55 percent of graduates are employed in their field due to limited integration between education and practical training. To address this, tasks were set to establish a system that closely links education, scientific research, and production, ensuring the training of specialists aligned with labor market needs.
Under the proposed measures, 6.8 thousand university students will undergo practical training at production organizations, enterprises, and agro-clusters, while more than 2.6 thousand students will receive training at 22 research institutes within the Ministry of Agriculture system. Proposals were also made to admit children of farmers and agricultural workers under reduced-tuition contracts and to shorten the duration of study in seven disciplines from four years to three years. Students will additionally be trained to obtain tractor driving licenses and operate agricultural drones.
The activities of the Agro-Industrial Development Agency were also reviewed. In 2025, intensive and industrial orchards and vineyards were established on 44 thousand hectares of inefficient land, creating 37 thousand jobs. These plantations are expected to begin yielding harvests from 2027, enabling annual exports of fruit and vegetable products worth $660 million.
Examples of ongoing projects were cited across regions, including apple, raspberry, and apricot plantations in Sokh; apricots and peaches in Termez district; “Avatar” grape vineyards in Akhangaran, Bulungur, and Kuva districts; and peach and plum orchards in Pap district. As a continuation of this effort, plans call for the establishment of 25.5 thousand hectares of orchards and 5 thousand hectares of vineyards in 2026, generating 48 thousand permanent and seasonal jobs.
It was also noted that saplings worth approximately $60 million are imported annually, despite the availability of conditions for local production meeting European standards. To address this, a collection of more than 200 virus-free, high-yield parent fruit varieties has been created. Complexes comprising in vitro laboratories and parent nurseries are being established on 50 hectares in Bektemir district and 75 hectares in Yuqorichirchiq district, with instructions issued to commission these facilities by the end of the year and ensure annual production of 27 million saplings.
Following the presentation, President Mirziyoyev issued relevant instructions to responsible officials to ensure the effective implementation of the proposed measures.
