30.03.2021

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited the Uzbek-Hungarian scientific center of potato farming in the Yukorichirchik District of the Tashkent Region.

The institution was created in cooperation with the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Natural Sciences based on the system of knowledge and innovations in agriculture.

The special attention paid by the head of our state to the development of potato farming is not by chance. Potato is one of the basic consumer products. Its quality and availability affects the well-being of every family.

The large quantities of seeds are needed to meet the domestic demand for potatoes. Today our country imports 200-300 thousand tons of consumer and 17 thousand tons of seed potatoes.

The new center will be engaged with the testing of Hungarian varieties and the production of seed potatoes. A comprehensive quality assurance system will be developed for the entire potato production process by cross-breeding of Hungarian and Uzbek varieties. More than 50 varieties will be localized and the potato genetic pool will be improved.

As a result of the application of innovative methods, it is scheduled to increase yields by 30-50% in 2021-2023. By 2024, it is planned to harvest 21 thousand tons of seed potatoes and completely replace its imports.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Viktor Orban got acquainted with the conditions created here.

The research center has laboratories for in vitro and plant pathology, potato storage physiology, quality control, rooms for the preparation, cultivation and storage of the samples, equipped with modern facilities. Four scientists from Hungary came to organize the activities of the center.

The President met with specialists and responsible persons. He has highlighted the need to expand training, education in the center of farmers, bringing the success of potato farming to all regions.

The guests also examined the Center of agricultural services for farmers, equipment and technologies used for agriculture in our country.