Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 25 November, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed projects aimed at strengthening food security and improving the efficiency of cotton and grain cultivation.

In his recent address to parliament, the President emphasized that ensuring food security is becoming a top priority amid rapid population growth.

With the population increasing annually by nearly one million people, and given limited land and water resources, internal market stability can only be achieved through rational resource use and increased productivity.

The Minister of Agriculture presented plans for the upcoming year. Agricultural crops will be sown on 4.8 million hectares, including over 2 million hectares allocated for potatoes, vegetables, legumes, and melons. A monitoring system will be established to track sowing areas and reserve harvests.

Special attention is being paid to developing an accounting system for 10 key food products. This system will monitor which goods are produced and the quantities reserved for the domestic market.

At the President’s initiative, 260,000 hectares of land have been distributed among 800,000 citizens for independent cultivation. A successful example in the Saykhunabad district demonstrated the approach’s effectiveness in creating jobs, increasing incomes—particularly for youth—and boosting agricultural output, stabilizing food prices.

The President stressed the importance of improving the efficiency of allocated land use, providing scientific and practical support to farmers, attracting grants, and implementing advanced technologies in agriculture.

He instructed the study of global practices in potato cultivation, with a focus on selecting high-yield varieties and enhancing productivity.

Last year, frosts damaged 9,000 hectares of orchards and 4,000 hectares of vineyards, leading to the loss of 207,000 tons of produce. In response, a draft law on "Agricultural Risk Insurance" has been developed to economically protect farmers from natural disasters.

The effectiveness of using foreign cotton varieties was also discussed. The President urged clusters, farmers, and enterprises to select the most suitable varieties and train agricultural workers in modern technologies. Additionally, directives were given for the production of compact agricultural machinery and cotton harvesters.

As part of the "Yashil Makon" (Green Space) program, forest plantations are being actively established across regions. The President suggested utilizing areas around these forests and farmers’ fields for cultivating food crops.

Proposals for reforming agricultural management systems at the regional and district levels were also addressed. The President highlighted the need for a systematic approach and the adoption of new management solutions.