President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on food safety and livestock support, outlining a series of measures to develop the sector. The event was reported by the presidential press service.
Over the past 25 years, cattle numbers have declined by 12% in 42% of countries worldwide, driven by expensive feed, drought, environmental factors, high interest rates, and falling incomes. This has pushed global meat prices to record levels.
Uzbekistan has significant potential for livestock development, with 16 million hectares of pastures, but only 10% is currently utilized. To address this, the Livestock and Pasture Development Agency has been established under the Ministry of Agriculture, replacing the Veterinary and Livestock Development Committee. Orif Butayev has been appointed as its head.
The agency is tasked with increasing cattle numbers to 16.5 million, sheep and goats to 30 million, and poultry to 141 million. The meat and milk processing rate should reach 50%, the share of pedigree cattle 90%, and fodder crop areas should expand by 1.5 times.
To improve feed base and breeding, one district in Karakalpakstan and each region will be specialized in livestock. In these districts, 50% of cotton and grain lands can be sown with fodder crops, and preferential loans at 10% will be provided. All farms will be allowed to build lightweight structures, feed storage, and silage pits on 20% of leased land without bureaucracy.
By year-end, 28,746 farms with at least 10 hectares each will raise 2 million cattle. From June 1, commercial banks will offer loans at 10% annual interest for 10 years with a 4-year grace period. Importers of pedigree livestock are exempt from VAT until 2029.
Banks will receive 1 trillion soums and $50 million at 6% interest. This year, 1,500 projects worth 5.5 trillion soums are to be launched, creating 25,000 jobs and increasing cattle numbers by 400,000.
A new training program will start from June 1: 10-day courses on artificial insemination at leading agricultural universities, training at least 1,000 specialists annually, who will receive free equipment. Subsidies of 500,000 soums per calf born via artificial insemination and 700,000 soums per embryo transfer will be paid, with an additional 50 billion soums allocated.
The meeting heard reports from officials and proposals from entrepreneurs and farmers. Specific instructions were given to effectively organize the new system, provide practical support to businesses, and expand feed base, breeding, processing, and export opportunities.
Source: www.gazeta.uz