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Fergana region will increase exports of fruits and vegetables to $500 million
On April 28, Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on the topic of socio-economic development of the Fergana region. Plans to open $300 million worth of tourist facilities were discussed.
Head of Stateaffectedthe topic of agriculture and reducing inflation. At the end of the first quarter, the rate of price growth in the region amounted to 7.5% - less than in previous months, but still noticeably higher than the national average.
Of the 517 goods and services in the consumer basket that affect inflation, 480 are produced within the region. Mirziyoyev instructed local officials to ensure an increase in their supply and thereby reduce prices.
Fergana region has irrigated lands with a total area of 370 thousand hectares. Of these, 55 thousand hectares are orchards and vineyards, but about 10% of these farms are already outdated by now.
Steppe and hilly lands suitable for agriculture make up another 37 thousand hectares - of which 6 thousand hectares are empty. Realization of their potential will allow increasing the production of fruits and vegetables by 300 thousand tons, as well as creating added value in the economy by 2 trillion soums.
The President noted the experience of the Quva Agrostar complex, with whichgot acquaintedthe day before. Here, on the basis of cooperation, the production of small processing shops for subsidiary and peasant farms and the supply of in vitro seedlings has been organized. The complex has launched training courses for farmers and also assists in the export of finished products.
The need was noted to introduce similar approaches throughout the region, as well as to update 5.5 thousand hectares of outdated gardens. A preferential credit line will be opened for the purchase of equipment and laboratory complexes.
Also Mirziyoyevsupporteda proposal to reduce the area for sowing cotton and grain by 7.4 thousand hectares in four regions. In their place it is planned to organize:
- in the Fergana and Uzbekistan regions - plantations of apricots, plums, raspberries, almonds on 4.4 thousand hectares;
- in the Kuva district - cherry orchards of export varieties on 1.2 thousand hectares;
- in the Yazyavan region - planting high-yielding varieties of rice on 1.8 thousand hectares.
In addition, it was ordered to create a rice growing school and an experimental complex for growing rice using the cassette method on 100 hectares of lake surface in the Yazyavan region. A program will be launched in the region to create super-intensive gardens on the site of 50 thousand hectares of low-yield cotton and grain fields, as well as outdated gardens.
At the first stage, it is planned to develop a feasibility study for 10 thousand hectares of industrial gardens, as well as transfer finished facilities to farmers on lease or on the basis of preferential loans.
The President noted the need to produce 611 thousand tons of fruits, 252 thousand tons of grapes, 1.8 million tons of vegetables and 119 thousand tons of rice this year. The goal is to increase fruit and vegetable exports by 25% - up to $500 million.
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