Proposals for Pasture Use Discussed

On February 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the presentation of proposals for protecting and effective using of pasture lands.

Uzbek President gave a corresponding instruction during the meeting on agricultural issues, held on January 23 this year.

There are more than 21 million hectares of pastures in our country, which are an important resource for many industries, such as cattle breeding, silkworm and beekeeping. But the current process of pasture use restricts the development of entrepreneurship and product cultivation on pasture lands.

In this regard, it is proposed to develop a draft law "On Pastures" and regulate the procedure of pastoral land leasing.

All these measures are aimed to create conditions for implementing a number of economic projects. In particular, 4 projects worth $7.8 million have been formed with the participation of leading companies from Spain and Portugal, and these projects will be implemented through the grants of international financial institutions. It is envisaged to establish fodder production enterprises in Kashkadarya and Samarkand Regions, to organize a laboratory for genetic research on cattle, as well as to introduce a digital identification of small ruminants. It is also planned to build wells and introduce drip irrigation, based on alternative energy sources, on 500 hectares of pastures at the expense of grants from international financial institutions.

It is known that pasture lands are favorable for ferula cultivation, which is listed in the Red Book. The natural habitat and reproduction of this plant is currently being affected. There were 33,000 hectares of natural ferula in 2019, but these areas have almost halved by 2021.

In this regard, it is recommended to increase the fine for the damage caused by each ferula bush, to introduce a moratorium on the use of Tajik ferula for a period of 3 years.

The President has approved these measures and gave additional instructions for the effective implementation of presented plans.