President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on measures to increase intensive orchards in the regions, according to the presidential press service.
Currently, Uzbekistan has 572,600 hectares of orchards and vineyards, providing exports worth $1 billion annually. The sector serves as a source of income for 882,000 people.
The meeting analyzed the condition of existing orchards and vineyards, noting the need to renew 61,000 hectares of old and 18,000 hectares of unusable orchards. In some areas, such plots yield only 5 tons per hectare, with annual income not reaching 10 million soums.
Specifically, in the Pop district of Namangan region, there are 1,200 hectares of old and unusable orchards. It was noted that planting export-oriented varieties and establishing agro-logistics centers for drying, sorting, and packaging could multiply yields and income. An example was given of an 84-hectare export cherry orchard in the district, where young saplings produce 7 tons per hectare, with each kilogram exported at $8.
In this regard, a new procedure for dealing with old and unusable orchards was proposed. Under it, the Agency for Agricultural Development would issue conclusions on declaring orchards and vineyards unusable, establishing intensive orchards, or converting land to arable categories.
Additionally, it was proposed to increase land and water tax rates for plots where intensive orchards are not established within 12 months, and if the situation persists for another year, to restrict water use.
The president emphasized the need to digitize control over efficient land use and instructed the launch of an information system for monitoring old and new intensive orchards via satellite imagery.
The meeting also focused on renewing old orchards in household and dehkan farms. Proposals included providing residents with up to 50 seedlings or loans of up to 2 million soums through the mahalla banker, and dehkan farms with loans of up to 150 million soums.
For 2026-2028, the country plans to establish 168,000 hectares of intensive orchards and vineyards, attracting $2 billion in investments and creating 258,000 jobs.
Nine commercial banks will be assigned to regions to finance and support projects. They will hand over ready intensive orchards to entrepreneurs and provide agrotechnical, financial, and organizational support for two years.
Source: www.gazeta.uz