Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 25 June, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals for the development of livestock sectors.

Meat, eggs, milk, and their processed products play a significant role in the nutrition of the population. Measures are being taken to develop poultry farming, sheep breeding, and goat farming, as well as to reduce food inflation. Moreover, these sectors provide significant opportunities for employment and increasing incomes.

In 2023, 253 projects were implemented in poultry farming, the number of such farms reached 1,300, and 4,000 new jobs were created. Prospective projects are expected to attract US$420 million from international organizations and banks.

The presentation included information on the poultry farming development strategy and plans for the current year.

Specifically, there are plans to increase poultry meat production from 700,000 tons to 800,000 tons this year, and also increase egg production from 8.5 billion to 10 billion.

One of the key issues in this sector is genetics. Uzbekistan lacks high-quality primary breeding poultry, with second-grade poultry being imported from Hungary.

Approximately 80% of the global market in agricultural poultry genetics is controlled by an American company. Cooperation is planned with them to introduce genetic technologies into poultry farming and establish breeding farms.

Proposals for implementing a cluster system in poultry farming, developing ready business projects, and providing them to entrepreneurs were also discussed.

Additional measures to support sector development were identified, including a 5-year exemption from land tax for poultry farms and permission to export poultry. The repayment terms for the US$35 million provided to entrepreneurs will be extended by 3 years.

The head of state also instructed to expand feed reserves and centrally supply them to poultry farms.

Currently, there are 39 farms engaged in karakul sheep breeding in Uzbekistan. Over 2 million hectares of pastures in the Bukhara region accommodate 2 million sheep. However, this number is insufficient.

Therefore, it is proposed to develop karakul sheep breeding through cooperation in household farms. Sheep will be provided to the population in the Karakul, Karaulbazar, Gizhduvan, Peshkun, Jandar, and Alat districts, along with allocated pastures and wells. Areas for fodder crops will also be expanded.

Thus, the task is to increase the number of karakul sheep from 6 to 7 million heads.

During the visit to Namangan region, the President also issued instructions for the development of goat farming. For this purpose, purebred goats were imported from Turkey and Russia, and a pedigree goat breeding cluster was established.

There is a need to import 5,000 purebred goats into the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Namangan, and Tashkent regions for breeding. This will allow increasing the number of goats to over 100,000 heads within two years.

Instructions were also given to improve breeding work in goat farming, as well as to produce and export cashmere and tweed from goat wool.