On November 25, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed the presentation of proposals to ensure food security, increase yields of cotton and grain crops.
In his speech at a recent parliamentary session, the Head of State emphasized that in the current conditions of population growth, ensuring food security is the most urgent task.
Indeed, the population of our country increases by almost 1 million people annually. Yet land and water resources are limited. Therefore, the stability of the domestic market can only be ensured through a rational approach and increased productivity.
At the presentation, the Minister of Agriculture outlined plans in this area.
Next year, it is planned to grow agricultural crops on 4 million 800 thousand hectares. Of these, potatoes, fruit and vegetable crops, legumes and melons will be planted on an area of more than 2 million hectares. Monitoring of crop placement and harvest reservation will be carried out.
In particular, a so-called “warehouse book” will be maintained for 10 main types of food products of primary importance. It will reflect information by district on what products are grown and how much will be reserved for the domestic market. At the initiative of the President, 260 thousand hectares of land were distributed among 800 thousand citizens for cultivation. In addition, based on the Saykhunabad experience, the cultivation of products on household plots is actively supported. Practice has confirmed the effectiveness of this solution for creating jobs and providing income to the population, especially young people. This approach has also become an important factor in increasing the volume of agricultural production, which allowed to avoid a sharp increase in food prices.
Now it is important to improve the quality of work, ensure the efficient use of allocated lands and household plots, provide the population with scientific and practical support. In addition, the districts need to more actively attract grants and technical assistance for developing agriculture and introducing advanced technologies.
The Head of State emphasized the need to study foreign experience, improve potato growing system and increase yields.
Last winter, 9 thousand hectares of gardens and 4 thousand hectares of vineyards suffered from frost. As a result, 207 thousand tons of crops perished.
Previously, the President gave instructions to develop a mechanism for compensating farmers for damage caused by such weather conditions. In accordance with this, a draft law “On Insurance of Agricultural Risks” was developed together with foreign experts. Its adoption will provide economic protection for farmers.
The effectiveness of sowing foreign varieties of cotton was analyzed.
The Head of State emphasized the importance of choosing the most optimal varieties, having studied the opinions of clusters, farmers and industrial enterprises, training farmers in modern agricultural technologies. Instructions were given for producing modern cotton pickers and small-sized agricultural machinery for household plots of the population.
As part of the national project “Yashil Makon”, forest plantations are being created in all regions. It was noted that food crops can be grown along the perimeter of such forests, as well as farm fields.
The presentation also considered proposals for reforming the agricultural management system in the regions and districts.