Gov’t to allocate $294 million for adapting agriculture to climate change

It is planned to allocate $294 million in grant funds to implement the national program for adapting agriculture to climate change and mitigating its impact, the presidential press service reports.

In Uzbekistan, 3 million hectares of pastures and agricultural land have been degraded, of which approximately 2 million hectares are salinized to varying degrees. According to foreign experts, by 2030, water resources in the region may decrease by 6% due to climate change.

In the Aral Sea region, the condition of 1 million hectares of agro-ecological landscapes and degraded pastures will be improved.

Protective forest belts will be created in Karakalpakstan, Khorezm, Bukhara and Kashkadarya regions. In areas with poor water supply, the cultivation of plants such as licorice, rose hips, sesame and brine shrimp will be established.

A center will be created to analyze and forecast climate change, and agrometeorological stations will be installed in five regions. Together with Italy, the International Center for Intensive Seed Growing and Nursery Growing, a farm for growing seedlings of plants resistant to drought and salinity, will be organized.

Grain and rice producers are compensated from the state budget for up to 100% of the costs of fuel and lubricants for each hectare leveled using a laser level.

At the first stage, this order will cover the Turtkul, Beruniy and Amudarya districts of Karakalpakstan. As a result, an increase in yield is expected by 5-7% and a reduction in water consumption by 15-20%.

At the Bandikhan Research and Experimental Station, 142 hectares will be re-introduced into circulation. Modern water-saving technologies will be installed on an area of 300 hectares and the cultivation of export-oriented fruits and grapes will be established.

At the Navoi Scientific Experimental Station in the Kyzyltepa district, a farm for growing grape seedlings will be organized with the import of varieties from France and other countries, and energy-saving pumping units and transformers will be installed.