00:04From modern farming technologies to new investment opportunities, Uzbekistan is
00:10reshaping its agricultural sector, aiming to increase productivity, expand exports and
00:16strengthen food security. This is Business Line Uzbekistan. Hello and welcome. Agriculture remains
00:23a key part of Uzbekistan's economy, but the sector is changing. New investment is going into half
00:29food is grown, processed and brought to market, while the country is also looking to increase
00:35exports and strengthen its own food security. Uzbek agricultural products are now exported
00:41to 92 markets worldwide. In recent years, trade turnover in the sector has approached 13.3 billion
00:49euros, while exports of fruit and vegetables, processed goods and other food products have
00:56reached around 3.1 billion euros. The target is to increase food exports to 8.9 billion
01:03euros by 2030. Investment in intensive orchards, vineyards and greenhouse production is aimed
01:10at raising yields and increasing the share of higher-value products. At the same time, Uzbekistan
01:17has designated 2026-2030 as a priority period for food security, with efforts focused on increasing
01:26domestic production and reducing reliance on imports of key products, such as grain, vegetable
01:32oil and sugar. Taken together, these changes go well beyond increasing production. They affect
01:39how farms use technology, how food is processed and monitored, and how Uzbek producers compete in
01:45international markets. At this 138-hectare orchard, growers prioritize fruit quality over
01:53maximum yields.
02:12To boost investment, Uzbekistan plans 172,000 hectares of new commercial orchards by 2028, supported by loans and subsidies.
02:41Digital tools and agricultural drones are being introduced, while water scarcity creates demand for more efficient irrigation.
02:49EBRD has recently launched with the Minister of Agriculture the Agri-Food Investment Opportunities Platform, which is short name is
02:58Anora Platform, which aims at mobilizing investments at around 1.5 billion US dollars, aimed at mainly increasing the agri
03:11-food system capabilities in Uzbekistan.
03:16According to the EBRD, irrigation consumes around a fifth of Uzbekistan's electricity. Modernizing pumping systems could reduce costs and save
03:26water.
03:27Joining us now is Shamshat Ergyashev, head of the Secretariat of the Minister of Agriculture.
03:32Mr. Ergyashev, how is Uzbekistan modernizing its agricultural system and what role will technology play in increasing productivity?
03:40I am hungry.
03:45I am hungry.
03:50I am hungry.
03:57I am hungry.
03:59We have about 7 million tons per day.
04:03We have a problem with next Let's go.
04:07We have to go around the price of 10 million tons per day.
04:11We are in the first place for a year's birthday.
04:16We have to put 40-45 days in quarantine.
04:20We have to go down the price of 10 million tons per day.
04:24We have to go around the price of 16 million hectares.
04:45Thank you for joining.
04:47Well, that's all we have for this edition.
04:49You can get more business news at euronews.com.
