The President of Uzbekistan approved several comprehensive measures for the development of fish-farming, Kun.uz correspondent reports. 

According to experts, this will solve many problems that have obstructed the intensive growth of this sphere for a long time. 

Clusters and preferences

Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed to prepare by February 1, 2019 a draft program for the organization of fish-farming clusters in 2019-2021. It will focus on the creation of full-cycle clusters - with hatcheries, fish and fry production, feed-stuff for fish with high protein content, processing and storage.

Fish breeding clusters, with a capacity of annual production at least 50 tons of fish, will be exempted from all types of taxes and mandatory contributions to state targeted funds effective from January 1, 2019.

In addition, until November 1, 2021:

• equipment, tools, machinery and their spare parts which are necessary for producing fish, breeding stock, fry and fish caviar, as well as fish products, equipment for providing alternative energy that are not produced in the republic by incubation, laboratory and intensive methods of fish production, equipment providing alternative energy, special equipment for land reclamation and equipment for transporting fish;

• compound feed and mineral fertilizers (ammophos), imported by foreign organizations and their dealer network, as well as business entities for the needs of fish farms. 

At the same time, the allocation of land for the creation of new artificial reservoirs for fish farms will be implemented only when entrepreneurs use intensive methods and resource-saving technologies.

In addition, the president instructed the government, in accordance with the international experience, in early January next year to make a proposal on the introduction of a differentiated rate of a single land tax for fish farms, based on the number of fish produced in artificial reservoirs of fishery.

For this purpose, until February 1, 2019, the Ministry of Finance will be responsible to transfer $ 15 million to the State Fund for the Support of enterprise development in order to finance fish projects annually during 2019-2020.

Furthermore, next year, 1 billion sums will be allocated for the development of Research Institute of Fishery, development and implementation of innovative ideas in the scope of scientific developments and modern technologies.