Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Saykhunabad district of Syrdarya region on 14 March. A videoconference meeting was held here on measures to increase incomes of the population through full use of the capabilities of private lands and households.

The meeting was attended by the leadership of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and regions, khokims of 208 districts and cities, their deputies, representatives of banks and mahallas. The head of our state emphasized that the residents of Saykhunabad strive for a better life, for which they need to be provided with conditions and create sources of income.

– We allocate significant funds for the development of entrepreneurship, employment and poverty reduction. Why did we organize the “makhalla seven”, why did we bring the system of fighting poverty to every home? Our goal is to use private plots, establish production at home, expand services on the streets and teach how to earn an income of 1-2 million soums from every hundred square meters,” said the head of our state.

However, in Saykhunabad, the results are far from expected. The systems responsible for agriculture, construction and investment in the area are not working properly, and entrepreneurship is not growing.

For this reason, the first deputy khokim of Syrdarya region, the khokim of Saykhunabad district and a number of other leaders were relieved of their posts.

At the meeting, the problems and untapped opportunities of the regions were analyzed using the example of Saykhunabad district.

In particular, the government allocates significant resources to banks. Last year, 120 billion soums were allocated to Saykhunabad to support entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs of the region received tax benefits worth 85 billion soums.

However, the results do not correspond to the effort expended. In the private sector, the number of formal jobs increased by only 968. In 2023, 167 new entrepreneurs appeared in the region, half of whom have not yet started working.

Banks are just taking the easy way out and allocating resources to their regular customers. Ordinary people who want to become entrepreneurs and create jobs in the mahalla are left behind. They are not provided with ready-made projects that would help them escape poverty.

Last year, the volume of industry in Saykhunabad practically did not grow. In 16 out of 19 mahallas there are no industries that create high added value.

There are 16 buildings and structures with ready-made infrastructure standing idle. There are no initiatives to process raw materials, train people to produce goods and cooperate.

The greatest reserves and opportunities of the region are land. Saykhunabad is one of 26 districts where the area of household plots exceeds 20 acres. The main crops on household plots remain fodder and corn. The production and export of highly profitable fruits and vegetables is not organized.

Syrdarya flows through the territory of Saykhunabad, easy access to water has ingrained in the mind the idea that water is free. Only 22 percent of lands have implemented water-saving technologies. Farms do not use laser leveling. Due to incomplete implementation of the plan for concreting canals, little water flows to 5 thousand hectares of land in 9 mahallas.

The meeting discussed measures to solve these problems and reduce unemployment.

First of all, the task has been set to ensure an increase in income of the population through the use of personal plots, the development of small industry and services in 17 thousand households in Saykhunabad. To do this, those in charge, together with the khokim’s assistants, will distribute 19 mahallas and 794 streets among themselves, and develop a feasibility study for each of them based on the “driver” areas.

For the first time, an experiment was conducted in Saykhunabad: each of the 19 mahallas was provided with one mini-tractor and four motor-cultivators. Now the khokim’s assistants will develop business plans for the population based on the criterion of “minimum 1-2 million soums of income per hundred square meters.” Together with mahalla agronomists, they will provide services for plowing and planting crops on their plots. This experience will be spread throughout the republic.

An important issue is the organization of a procurement system for grown products. To this end, an export-promoting enterprise with an authorized capital of 1 billion soums will be opened in the region. It will provide 4 thousand farms with seeds of high-yielding pumpkin, mung beans, beans, rosemary, broccoli, thyme, and will buy the grown products and export them.

In addition, grants from 300 million to 1 billion soums will be allocated to exporters and progressive entrepreneurs of mahallas.

In each of the 19 mahallas, 10 exemplary intensive gardens will be created. They will cooperate with exporters; complexes for storage, sorting and processing with a capacity of 2 thousand tons will be organized. Each exemplary farm will subsequently teach this to its neighbors. For this purpose, a tripartite agreement will be concluded between the khokim, the owner of the garden and the bank.

There is also the possibility of growing poplars for furniture factories. Therefore, 100 hectares of empty land around the canals and drainage networks of the area will be divided among 500 farms for planting poplars.

In Saykhunabad, only 60 thousand birds are reared industrially every year. This is very little. Therefore, 4 large poultry farms will be created, with which 2 thousand farms will establish cooperation. As a result, farms will be able to raise 10 million birds a year, producing an additional 22 thousand tons of poultry meat.

In addition, in the mahallas through which the Syrdarya River passes, artificial reservoirs will be built for fish breeding, and hives for beekeeping and honey export will be distributed.

Families wishing to increase their livestock numbers will be allocated 400 hectares of land for fodder crops. As part of the family entrepreneurship program, an unsecured loan in the amount of 33 million soums in cash will be provided for the purchase of cattle, sheep and goats. This will create conditions for increasing the number of livestock on 1.5 thousand farms. Milk collection points will be launched in such mahallas.

The need for assistance in organizing small-scale production at home is emphasized. For this purpose, 60 billion soums will be allocated to the region to improve business infrastructure. Projects will be implemented on the basis of 21 empty buildings with the involvement of investors. A small industrial zone will be created in the Farovon mahalla on an area of 35 hectares, where industrial projects worth at least US$100 million will begin.

The head of state noted that last year not a single multi-storey building was built in Saykhunabad, and gave instructions on this issue.

In general, as it was emphasized, this system should cover every mahalla, every street, every household in Saykhunabad. Responsible persons have been instructed to implement this new system in all 9,452 mahallas of the republic.

– This year will be the year of vital awakening and the rise of our economy. To achieve this, local officials must work selflessly and lead others,” said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

At the meeting, reports and proposals of khokims and sector leaders, representatives of the economic complex, and chairmen of mahallas were heard.