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The gas supplier in Uzbekistan will be responsible for damage caused by short supply of fuel to greenhouses

The President of Uzbekistan approved measures for the development of greenhouse farming. In 2027, it is planned to increase the export of greenhouse products to $4 billion, and production to 670 thousand tons. Support measures include benefits, financial assistance and guaranteed gas supply.

On October 8, the President of Uzbekistan signed a decree on measures to improve the efficiency of greenhouse farms and increase export volumes.

The document sets targets for increasing the volume of exports of fruits and vegetables and food products and the development of greenhouse farming for 2025–2027:

• bringing export volumes to $3.5 billion in 2026, and to $4 billion in 2027;
• bringing the volume of cultivation of fruits and vegetables in greenhouses, provided with a guaranteed supply of natural gas, to 620 thousand tons in 2026, to 670 thousand tons in 2027, with an increase in the share of exported products from 30 to 70%;
• organizing the planting of fruit seedlings and vegetable crops along the fields in additionally allocated areas - 20 thousand hectares in 2026 and 15 thousand hectares in 2027.

Benefits for greenhouses

For business entities whose income from greenhouse activities is at least 60% of their total income, from January 1, 2026 to the end of 2028, a social tax rate of 1% is established.

The deadline for payment of tax debt existing as of October 1, 2025 is extended until the end of 2028 without interest.

It is allowed to use up to 5% of the allocated land area, but not more than 20 acres, without changing the category of agricultural land, for the construction of greenhouse infrastructure facilities - boiler rooms, premises for sorting and packaging products, storage of spare parts for greenhouses and service buildings.

In addition, land tax for legal entities and individuals on greenhouse farms is accrued at the rates established for agricultural land. At the same time, amounts calculated at rates applied to non-agricultural land are subject to recalculation starting from January 2025.

Turnovers from the sale of greenhouses and real estate objects transferred to the balance sheet of commercial banks due to failure to fulfill loan obligations or being pledged are exempt from paying value added tax until January 1, 2028. In addition, such objects are also exempt from paying land tax for the period from the moment they are accepted on the balance sheet of a commercial bank until the moment they are sold to a new investor.

Financial support until 2030 regardless of sustainability rating

Compensatory support from the Entrepreneurship Development Company JSC is being renewed for greenhouse farms that fulfill the indicators of their business plan (job creation, revenue from product sales) by an average of more than 30% in 2025-2027 and more than 50% in 2028-2029.

All categories of business entities that received loans (leasing) for greenhouse projects before October 1, 2025, in the absence of overdue debt, are compensated for part of the interest rate:

• for loans in foreign currency - in an amount exceeding 4 percentage points,
• for loans in national currency - in an amount exceeding 14 percentage points;

Commercial banks will provide greenhouse farms with preferential loans at a rate of 14% per annum for 12 months at the expense of the State Support Fund for Agriculture:

• in the amount of 50% of the cost of the harvest - to replenish working capital;
• for installation of dust and gas cleaning equipment.

Up to 20% of installation costs for heat pumps purchased through the Digital Platform for Energy Efficiency are reimbursed.

Gas supply

Greenhouse farms operating on natural gas will be supplied with natural gas in guaranteed volumes from October to March, subject to 50% prepayment for each month.

The Ministry of Energy is instructed to ensure the conclusion of contracts for the supply of natural gas in guaranteed volumes annually by October 1 (for 2025 - within 10 days). At the same time, the contracts must clearly define the supplier’s responsibility for damage caused by a short supply of natural gas, resulting in loss of crops.

In addition, the Ministry of Energy must ensure that when greenhouse farms are transferred to the balance sheet of commercial banks, sold to new investors or otherwise effectively used (including moving to other regions of the country), as well as when creating new greenhouses, technical specifications are provided within 10 days, and connection to gas and electric networks is ensured.

Measures to increase exports

According to the document, the practice of establishing minimum export prices for fruits and vegetables is abolished.

In addition, business entities purchasing equipment for harvesting legumes will be compensated at the expense of the State Fund for Support of Agriculture:

• 15% of the cost of equipment;
• part of the leasing or loan rate exceeding 10%.

The Agency for Quarantine and Plant Protection, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is tasked with the following until the end of 2025:

• take measures to reach agreements with foreign companies on conducting laboratory tests of food products for safety and introducing an international certification system;
• introduce a system of laboratory analysis of the content of pesticide and nitrate residues in fresh and dried products exported from Uzbekistan, in accordance with the food safety requirements of importing countries.

By October 15, 2025, 200 grain harvesters for collecting legumes will be re-equipped and assigned to legume producers.

The Ministry of Ecology has been instructed to submit proposals to the government within a month to strengthen enforcement measures against entities that violate environmental requirements when heating greenhouses.

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