18.07.2022

On July 18, a videoconferencing was held under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on increasing food production and the incomes of the population.

The risks of food security are increasing in the world. The export restrictions and disruption of transport and logistics chains exacerbate the problem. According to the analysis, the global food prices are expected to rise by at least 20% this year.

In our country, the food comprise 40-50% of the population’s expenditures. Therefore, the measures are being taken to mitigate the impact of rising prices on the life of the population by increasing production.

In particular, since the beginning of the year, 80,000 hectares of sown land have been allocated to the population – released after the reduction of cotton and grain areas. The infrastructure of “Tomorka Khizmati” has been established to provide the population with seeds, seedlings and fertilizers. This year alone, 400 billion Uzbek soums of concessional loans were provided for growing crops on household plots.

As a result, the production increases and prices normalize. Over the past month, the cost of tomatoes in the domestic market has decreased to 3 times, cucumbers - by 10%, potatoes - by 30%, carrots - by 15%. In addition, 821,000 tons of fruits and vegetables were exported over 6 months, which is 102,000 tons more than last year.

It is also important that 785 thousand people were employed on the allocated lands.

At the meeting, along with the positive experience of districts and makhallas (the local residential communities), shortcomings were openly discussed.

In particular, it is indicated that 16,000 hectares out of 80,000 hectares of land could not be distributed due to remoteness from settlements and limited access to water. The khokims (governors) were instructed to replace these sites with ones convenient for the population.

The President has identified the new opportunities based on the proposals of the population. It was noted that another 20,000 hectares of land shall be allocated to the population by the end of the year, and 100,000 hectares of sown land – next year. The total area of ​​allotments shall reach 200 thousand hectares of land.

“This is a very big opportunity. There will be conditions for providing employment for an additional 1.2 million. Most importantly, if a khokim of a district, the assistant to a khokim approach this issue with a calculation, then the issue of food and the unemployed can be easily resolved,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev has said.

In order to help the population in the production and sales of products, the instructions were given to deliver the high-yielding seeds and seedlings to the regions, install small freezers, and increase the number of greenhouses.

Today, the residents of 64 districts grow 3 crops a year on their household lands. With a good harvest, one family can earn up to 60-100 million Uzbek soums.

The President has stressed that such work should be stimulated in other regions, as well.

In particular, it was decided to increase the size of the subsidy for the construction of large wells in areas with a difficult water supply to 150 million Uzbek soums. For small wells, a subsidy of 100,000 Uzbek soums will be provided for each meter of well depth after 5 meters in Karakalpakstan, and more than 10 meters in other regions.

The hydrogeological reports on drilling wells will be provided free of charge until 2025. It was decided to extend subsidies for the introduction of water-saving technologies to farms.

Another problem that hinders households is that 2.6 million houses in our country do not have cadastral documents. The people’s reception offices receive numerous complaints that their owners cannot use loans, subsidies and mortgages to expand housing.

In addition, due to the lack of a cadastre, a land tax is calculated at a rate increased to 3 times.

The Ministry of Justice has been tasked with developing a separate draft law to finally resolve the issue of houses without a cadastre. Until the adoption of the new law, the tax on these houses at a triple rate will be suspended.

The meeting has touched upon issues of agriculture.

The khokimiyats (governors’ offices) were tasked to take measures to place repeated crops at 820,000 hectares of land by the end of July and to harvest 11 million tons of products, prepare a food reserve by the end of the year.

As it is well-known, a new system of financing the cultivation and purchase of grain was launched this year. Offering attractive prices to farmers has paid off. Thanks to the fact that 88,000 tons of wheat were listed on the stock exchange in July, the average price of 1 ton of wheat decreased by 30%.

One million 842 thousand tons of grain were purchased for the state resource. The farmers and clusters deposited 574,000 tons of grain with grain enterprises.

The responsible officials were instructed to regularly put the grain on the stock exchange and, by October 1, make a full settlement with farmers and clusters.

The President has focused on improving the efficiency and executive discipline of state bodies.

“The research in the Samarkand Region has revealed many of our shortcomings. The most difficult and difficult reforms are yet to come. Everyone must change, change their methods of work,” the President has stated.

It was emphasized that the Cabinet of Ministers, ministries and agencies need to change their structure and methods of work. The Ministry of Justice has been instructed to optimize legislation and increase convenience for residents and businesses.

The Chamber of Accounts has been tasked with digitalizing the processes associated with spending funds, especially financing construction, allocating subsidies and compensations.

The Deputy Prime Ministers, khokims and chairmen of makhallas (the local residential communities) reported on the issues discussed at the meeting.