Uzbekistan is reportedly moving forward with a strategic agricultural initiative to construct energy-efficient greenhouse complexes specifically designed for lemon cultivation, which will then be handed over to local businesses in a turnkey condition. According to official plans, the project will kick off in the Balykchi district, with similar multi-hectare complexes scheduled to be rolled out across other regions of the country next year.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reportedly reviewed the comprehensive project aimed at expanding the domestic lemon-growing sector. Under the current blueprint, modern greenhouses covering a total area of 100 hectares will be built near nine rural makhallas in the Balykchi district. These facilities are intended to integrate the entire production cycle into a single streamlined chain—ranging from cultivation and sorting to processing, packaging, storage, and commercial distribution.
The initiative purportedly places significant emphasis on social support for low-income and unemployed residents, with organizers claiming that at least 1,000 locals will secure employment across 500 greenhouses. Officials note that participating families will not have to wait for the primary lemon trees to mature to generate income; instead, they will be able to cultivate intermediate cash crops in the spaces between tree rows until the citrus harvest begins.
Authorities intend to replicate the Balykchi district's model nationwide, aiming to construct an additional 200 hectares of greenhouse complexes across various regions next year to support approximately 2,000 families. The country's leadership has allegedly instructed relevant agencies to provide robust financial backing for the initiative and subsidize public training expenses related to modern lemon-farming techniques. This development follows previous announcements regarding Uzbekistan securing export clearance for lemons, apples, figs, and hot peppers to the Pakistani market.
Source: podrobno.uz