As reported by Spot, Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on the topic of cultivating high-yield agricultural crops. The President announced the establishment of the Uzagrostar holding under the auspices of the state.
New financial support measures in the agricultural sector are also planned. Grants for the best projects aimed at developing household and subsidiary farms will be allocated annually, amounting to 20 billion sums, which will be distributed among 500 mahallas.
Farmers organizing export-oriented production will receive up to 100 million sums in subsidies, while organizers of agricultural training courses will be granted up to 5.5 million sums. In arid regions, the state will cover 50% of the costs for rainwater storage tanks.
A loan for the cultivation and processing of fruit and vegetable products can be obtained from the Agricultural Fund by providing a insurance policy as collateral. There are instructions to streamline bureaucratic procedures when allocating funds.
The head of state announced the introduction of a new system this year for accounting household and farmer lands with their classification. Information about the crops on these lands will be entered into the "Online-Mahalla" system. Additionally, the sale of farmers' agricultural products will be organized through a special marketplace.
Upon achieving an official income of over 5 million sums per centner, farmers will receive a 90% cashback on the land tax for effective land use. Simultaneously, the tax rate for unused household plots will be increased.
In Karakalpakstan, Tashkent, Andijan, and Jizzakh regions, it has been instructed to lease 3300 hectares of vacant land for 49 years under a new system. The plots will be divided into contours ranging from 3 to 50 hectares, with an analysis of soil composition and quality, as well as the establishment of minimum and maximum water supply levels.
Entrepreneurs from all regions will be able to participate in the auctions. Bidding will be conducted with a reduction in the starting price and a one-time payment condition, and part of the land will be reserved for warehouses and packaging workshops.
The new taxation procedure for leased agricultural lands will aim to enhance their bonitet. The tax rate will remain the same if the bonitet score increases, and will triple if it decreases.
The issue of supplying Uzbekistan with potatoes was also addressed. Despite the significant area devoted to potato cultivation (290 thousand hectares), part of the demand is met through imports due to insufficient quality of varieties and yield.
The President instructed the Potato Research Institute to develop high-yield varieties adapted to the local climate, to prepare 3 million tubers using in vitro methods. For these purposes, 400 billion sums will be allocated from the Agricultural Fund.
Imported seed potatoes will be exempt from customs duties for 3 years. From 2027, it is planned to meet the potato needs from domestic resources.
Earlier, Spot reported that Kazakhstan had restricted potato exports for six months.