Amid rapid population growth and escalating domestic demand for meat products in Uzbekistan, local agricultural production has proven insufficient to fully cover market requirements. During a briefing held on November 6 at the Content Preparation Center, Minister of Agriculture Ibrohim Abdurahmonov addressed media representatives, acknowledging structural vulnerabilities and outlining ongoing measures to mitigate the looming supply deficit. According to the minister, the primary catalyst for the current shortfall is the longstanding neglect of necessary fodder bases and livestock infrastructure over preceding years.
Key Takeaways: Minister of Agriculture Ibrohim Abdurahmonov announced that the republic is importing 841,000 heads of high-breed livestock this year, alongside plans to bring in over 400,000 sheep and goats. Furthermore, pursuant to presidential decree No. 322, specialized livestock complexes designed for 30 to 40 cattle are being established across 16,000 local farming enterprises.
The minister candidly admitted past shortcomings, pointing out that adequate grazing conditions and feed supply chains had been largely ignored by previous administrative frameworks. To counter these systemic issues, authorities are aggressively promoting localized livestock units adjacent to cotton and grain fields. Nevertheless, Abdurahmonov cautioned that transformative changes in the meat sector will not yield immediate results, emphasizing that optimizing the industry requires meticulous import strategies, specialized care, and stringent veterinary safety protocols to prevent disease outbreaks.
Addressing transboundary animal health concerns, the minister stressed that uncontrolled livestock imports pose severe biological risks that could paralyze the domestic agricultural sector if safety checks are bypassed. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the critical state of national pastures, with authorities arguing that under-grazing and desertification have severely harmed ecological symbiosis. Consequently, the ministry is deploying modern restoration techniques, including micro-fertilizers, seed dissemination via drone technology, and optimized grazing quotas to rehabilitate degraded lands and stabilize national meat supplies.
Source: www.gazeta.uz