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Uzbekistan intends to increase agricultural exports to $5B by 2021

25 January 2019 19:07 (UTC+04:00)
Uzbekistan intends to increase agricultural exports to $5B by 2021

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

By 2021, Uzbekistan intends to increase exports of agricultural products to $ 5 billion, said Uzbek Foreign Trade Minister Zhamshid Khodzhayev.

Speaking at the Forum of Nutrition and Agriculture in Berlin, the minister declared that from 2000 until to date, Uzbekistan’s agriculture has been growing steadily at a rate of 6.6 per annually, which is much more than the world average of 2.8 percent.

The forum was organized within the framework of Germany’s largest event in the agro-industry - Green Week 2019. An official opening of the Uzbek stand took place here on January 18.

At the stand of Uzbekistan, a presentation of agricultural, horticultural and alcoholic products of Uzbekistan, as well as the national cuisine and tourist potential of the country was organized. The stand will work until January 27.

In addition, the Uzbek delegation held talks with the Minister of Agriculture of Germany, Julia Klöckner, during which the parties discussed the possibility of expanding bilateral cooperation in the field of agro-industry.

According to last year’s results, Uzbekistan sent food products for a little over $1 billion (a growth of 25.3 percent), of which $730 million accounted for the CIS countries.

Because of the risks associated with a one-crop economy as well as from considerations of food security for the population, Uzbekistan has been trying to diversify its production of other agricultural products, while reducing cotton production.

Thus, Uzbekistan aims to increase production of grain crops up to 8.5 million tons with the growth rate of 16.4 percent by 2020 due to optimization of lands and introduction of modern agriculture technologies. It is also planned to increase production of potatoes by 35 percent, other vegetables by 30 percent, fruits and grapes 21.5 percent, meat by 26.2 percent, milk by 47.3 percent, eggs by 74.5 percent and fish by 2.5 times.

Currently, more than 67,800 farms operate in Uzbekistan. Their activities are regulated by the Law of Uzbekistan "On Farm" and Presidential Decree "On measures to further improve the organization of activities and the development of farming in Uzbekistan."

By 2020, it is envisaged to increase the production of cereal crops to 8.5 million tons with an increase of 16.4 percent, increase the production of potatoes by 35 percent, other vegetables - by 30 percent, fruits and grapes - by 21.5 percent, meat - by 26.2 percent, milk - by 47.3 percent, eggs - by 74.5 percent, fish - 2.5 times. At the same time, export volumes of these types of food will increase significantly.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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