20th Anniversary International Exhibition on Agriculture - AgroWorld Uzbekistan 2025

11 - 13 March 2025, Uzexpocentre NEC / Tashkent, Uzbekistan

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Agricultural sector: what will mechanization give to farmers and dekhkans?

In the 21st century, it is no longer appropriate for a farmer to walk through the fields with only a shovel or a hoe. Today, the process of using agricultural machinery to mechanize work is being introduced into the agriculture of Uzbekistan, which significantly increases the productivity of workers in the sector. The prospects for this area were discussed at an international conference held in the capital at the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

FAO, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, is implementing a number of important initiatives in our country. Thus, in 2024, the project "Support for the Development of a Strategy for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization" was launched. Within its framework, FAO specialists conducted a comprehensive analysis of the current state of mechanization of the agricultural sector in Uzbekistan.

The main results of the study could be learned at an international seminar held recently in the capital. The event became a platform for discussing the results of the analysis and jointly searching for solutions with key stakeholders. It was attended by FAO representatives, heads of relevant departments and agencies, as well as international experts.

It is noted that over the past five years, the technical equipment of the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan has increased from 67 to 81 percent, in the cotton and grain growing sectors this figure now reaches 90 percent, in vegetable growing - 50 percent.

But the percentages themselves do not give a complete picture, since most of the equipment available in farms and dehkan farms is physically and morally outdated. New combines are purchased for the cotton growing sector, but they are all imported. The country needs domestic equipment and its own personnel for maintenance and repair.

- Modern development of agriculture in Uzbekistan requires the introduction of innovative approaches, technologies and improving the professional skills of farmers, - emphasized FAO project engineer Joseph Kinzli. - These processes include the use of advanced technologies, compliance with high safety and quality standards at all stages of production. It is worth noting that in your country the state has provided tax breaks and other incentive measures, which allowed medium and large farms to provide mechanization services to small producers. However, there is a need for a long-term strategy that will ensure the sustainable development of automation and mechanization. This will significantly improve the efficiency of the sector, not only improving the overall level of production, but also providing farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to optimally use the machinery.

Indeed, the project was launched to support the development of national capacity in the field of sustainable mechanization, which plays an important role in ensuring national food security. This includes supporting the Government of Uzbekistan in developing a strategy, conducting training events for key industry players and strengthening their professional skills. Full technical, operational and administrative support is provided by the FAO Project Working Group (LIG).

What are the points that are emphasized? Thus, it is emphasized that there are 150 thousand tractors and 6,149 combines in Uzbekistan, but most of them are outdated. There is a shortage of equipment for irrigation, a poorly developed dealer network, and problems with creating places for training in driving and repairing tractors have not been resolved. It is necessary to organize a repair base, promote advanced technologies, and ensure that the equipment does not disturb the soil structure.

- In my opinion, increasing the involvement of the population in the agricultural sector significantly contributes to the reduction of external labor migration in Uzbekistan, - notes FAO agricultural engineer Santiago Santos Valle. - People want to work on the land, but the issues of ownership of land plots have not yet been worked out. And state subsidy programs for farms to purchase new equipment do not fully solve the problem of updating the tractor fleet. It is necessary to expand the use of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.

FAO experts recommended adopting a law on encouraging and supporting the mechanization of the agricultural sector, developing additional consulting systems for the introduction of new technologies for soil protection, saving fuel when using equipment, stimulating the introduction of technologies for saving irrigation water.

Since agricultural, forestry and fish farming products bring more than 15 percent of export revenue to the state treasury, there is a need to increase state support for the development of the sector.

Domestic experts actively joined in the discussion of the FAO specialists' reports: they agreed on some things, and argued about others. For example, the head of the department of the National Research University "Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers" Maruf Zhiyanov reasonably objected to the statement about the shortage of specialists: every year the university graduates 1,500 engineers in various areas of agricultural mechanization.

- In our country, there are roughly one and a half engineers for every farmer, - says Rajabboy Khudaykuliev, director of the Research Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, located in the Yangiyul district of the capital region. - A good experience has been introduced in Germany: a new model of equipment is first given for testing to the tractor driver training center and only after approval is it launched into production. We do not have a systematization of the purchase of imported equipment, which is produced without research into its suitability for our climate and the impact on the soil structure.

- I would like to note that 200 thousand mechanics are engaged in servicing equipment in rural areas, - the head of the department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan Kodirjon Ismoilov joined in. - In cotton growing and grain industries, the fields are approximately 40-50 hectares in size, there is generally enough equipment for them, and assistance in servicing is provided by specialists from local branches of the Agroinspection.

There is a system of subsidies from the state, but it still has weak points, it needs to be improved. In this regard, the proposal to create an agency for regulating these subsidies in agriculture is logical. The system should be flexible, promptly respond to challenges and new situations. The issue of organizing equipment service remains open. And new agricultural equipment is not tested in the fields.

- It is very important to use pilot projects, - emphasized Vasile Bumacov, a representative of the FAO, in his speech. - Most farmers are quite conservative. If a scientist comes to them and advertises equipment, they may not get carried away. But if they see it at work in a neighboring field, they will certainly show interest. They will not want to lag behind. In addition to government subsidies, credit lines are important, as well as leasing programs from suppliers. Moreover, mechanization is not limited to replacing old tractors with new ones. Precision farming systems are also needed, when GPS control of the same tractor guarantees remote control of processes, smart sensors help in organizing economical irrigation of the soil, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers, and monitoring the healthy development of seedlings.

The last conclusion was especially pleasing: in Europe, there is an acute shortage of young people in the field of agriculture, while Uzbekistan has enormous potential in this regard. It is only necessary to teach young men and women innovative management of the sphere so that work on the land is as effective as possible.