14.03.2024

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Ittifok makhalla in Saykhunabad District, where He was briefed with the backyard and household farms of the population.

One of the pressing issues in our country is employment. Whether it is economic reforms or regional programs, they are all aimed at creating jobs and improving the quality of life of the population.

As a result of these measures in recent years, 2.4 million people have become self-employed. Nearly 2 million people have been lifted out of poverty. Within the “20,000 Entrepreneurs - 500,000 Qualified Specialists” program, contracts have been signed to provide employment for 455,000 people. At the makhalla level, 51,000 micro-projects have been implemented, and 206,000 new jobs have been created. Unemployed citizens are being trained in modern professions and foreign languages at “Ishga Markhamat” vocational centers.

The state program currently envisages providing employment for 5 million people, including over 2 million in agriculture and household farming.

During the meeting with the Head of State held on March 7, possibilities for engaging the capabilities of makhallas and creating sources of income for families were discussed. One of the most accessible and widespread methods mentioned was the realization of the potential of household lands.

The President always emphasizes the need to start nationwide programs from the most difficult regions in order to improve conditions locally, alleviate the hardships of the people, and at the same time demonstrate in practice what can be achieved in such areas.

Saykhunabad is one of those regions. 60% of the local budget is provided by higher-level budgets. The development of entrepreneurship lags behind other regions. There are 2,400 unemployed people in the district. The poverty level here is higher than the national average.

In the Ittifok makhalla, 6,672 people reside. There are three schools, three kindergartens, a polyclinic, dozens of enterprises, and farms. But this is not enough to ensure full employment. Over a hundred able-bodied individuals are unemployed. There are those who work abroad and people with disabilities who wish to work. Last year, credits were allocated for 140 projects to attract the population to entrepreneurship. 137 citizens were allocated long-term land plots for farming.

In reality, the residents do not need additional land plots because Saykhunabad is among the 26 districts where, on average, each family has 20 acres of household land. However, they are not fully utilized. The main crops grown on such lands are alfalfa and corn.

In particular, the total area of household plots in the Ittifok neighborhood is 185 hectares. Thanks to the Syrdarya River flowing through the district, there is an abundance of water. However, the volumes of production of valuable goods and the corresponding well-being of households remain low. Specifically, the income from 6 acres of household land in the Fergana Valley is several times higher than the productivity of a much larger plot here.

Therefore, it has been decided to transform Saykhunabad into a model for the full-scale utilization of the potential of household and personal farms. The Presidential Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated March 5 of this year, “On measures to support the production of goods in households by industrial methods and mobilize new reserves in household and dekhkan farms”, identifies significant opportunities for this. In particular, in 2024, the creation of exemplary training and experimental sites in 54 districts is planned for planting export-oriented and high-yielding crops, and for enhancing the knowledge and skills of the population in this field.

Such exemplary household plots were also created in the Ittifok makhalla. The Head of State visited these households.

For example, on a 14-acre household plot, Risolat Gulomova used only thirty percent of the land to grow carrots, garlic, and onions.

With the assistance of the local administration and responsible organizations, apple and grape seedlings were planted in the garden, along with various vegetables. Additionally, poultry, rabbits, bees, and dairy cows were raised.

Today, the construction of fuel-free greenhouses is gaining popularity in our country. The President approved this practice and emphasized the need to scale it up and provide ready-made greenhouses to farmers. A two-acre greenhouse was also built in Risolat's house, where 30 lemon trees were planted, along with tomatoes and strawberries between the rows.

The President had conversations with the owners of household plots and the makhalla’s activists.

We organize all the work in the makhalla so that our people feel the changes taking place. Now we will direct all the capabilities of government institutions to every street, every home. For example, the bank assigned to the makhalla, in addition to providing funds, will change people's approach to their own economy. Our goal is to increase the people’s income and make them prosperous. Of course, it will not be easy. It requires hard work, continuous search, and always new ideas. But it is achievable. The only criterion is that the economic complex should live by the concerns of the people, said the President.

The representatives of the makhalla reported that the residents of the makhalla and the entire Saykhunabad show great interest in the extensive use of household farming. The responsible authorities promised to expand this experience, assist the owners of household plots, and transform the makhalla into an unemployment-free area.

During the visit, the President also answered questions from the media representatives.