In Tashkent on November 13, the National Statistics Committee presented the results of Uzbekistan’s agricultural census at a press conference. The findings show that 985,400 hectares of land had not previously been reflected in official statistics, the area under greenhouses is almost three times higher than earlier estimates, and cattle numbers are about 2.3 million head lower. Officials said the revised figures are intended to provide a more complete picture of agricultural resources and to support planning, state programs and investment decisions. Agriculture remains an important source of employment and food security, so the quality of statistics directly affects how support measures are targeted.
Key Takeaways: Of the newly recorded land, 789,600 hectares are cropland; greenhouse area has been revised from 8,000 hectares to 22,100 hectares. As of January 15, 2026, cattle numbers are estimated at 12.24 million head, nearly 2.3 million fewer than the previous estimate. The area of orchards and vineyards has been increased from 516,300 to 613,000 hectares.
The committee stressed that the discrepancies do not mean a sharp one-year expansion of cropland or an abrupt decline in livestock. Rather, they reflect a more complete accounting of land, farms and agricultural output. In particular, the census covered plots that were actually used for agriculture but had a different official designation. The update therefore points to the need for stronger monitoring and reporting systems in the sector, where outdated records can affect policy, subsidies and resource allocation. For Uzbekistan, where farming is closely tied to land and water use, such clarifications are important for balanced planning.
Specialists used satellite imagery, cadastral records and on-site checks to clarify the data. According to the findings, 87.1 percent of cattle are kept in dehqan and household plots; sheep and goats total 23.09 million head, while poultry numbers reach 120.9 million. The National Statistics Committee said the revised indicators should serve as a more reliable basis for analyzing production structure, resource availability and targeted support for farmers and livestock producers. Attention was also drawn to differences between the official designation of land and its actual use, which matters for cadastral records and taxation.
Looking ahead, the updated data are expected to be integrated into sectoral programs, subsidy mechanisms and projects supporting crop and livestock production. Earlier, it was announced that the Asian Development Bank will allocate $60 million to develop livestock farming in five regions of Uzbekistan. The next task for statisticians is to maintain regular monitoring of the newly identified resources, expand digital reporting and improve data exchange with local authorities and industry agencies. In the longer term, this should improve forecasts for yields, livestock numbers and output volumes, while reducing the risks associated with incomplete data when allocating benefits and subsidies.
Source: podrobno.uz