Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At the fifty-second plenary meeting of the Senate, the results of a parliamentary request sent to the government regarding the negative impact of pasture degradation on food security, agricultural production and the environment were considered.

It was noted that the Presidential resolution from 13 February 2024 “On additional measures to combat the degradation of agricultural land, support for increasing the humus content in the soil and its fertility” and the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution from 12 March 2024 on measures to protect pastures and groundwater were adopted on them, as well as to combat pasture degradation.

These resolutions stipulate the implementation of standard pilot projects in Bukhara and Navoi regions for drilling steep wells in areas where there is no water supply, pumping groundwater using pumping units powered by solar energy and introducing drip irrigation technologies.

It is planned to develop a public-private partnership to improve and restore water supply in pastures, training personnel in the field of education “Ecology and pasture management” at the Tashkent State Agrarian University and Samarkand State University starting from the 2024/2025 academic year.

It is planned to develop and put into practice optimal methods for reducing the load of livestock on pastures and establishing a rational system for their alternate grazing, restoring degraded pastures and increasing their productivity.

On the pastures of the Nishan, Nurata, Nurabad, Farish and Gijduvan regions, the practice of alternate grazing of livestock for a period of two years has been established.

The Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry under the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Research and Design Institute "Uzdaverloikha" have established partnerships with such international organizations as FAO, ICARDA, Saritas and the Nevada Pasture Management Society of the USA.

The senators, noting that some work is being done in this area, noted that some issues remain relevant regarding the effective use of pastures, their control and the fight against degradation, which need to be resolved.

In particular, it is necessary to conduct a complete inventory of pasture lands in terms of contours and users, carry out geobotanical research on more than 4 million hectares of pastures and develop their electronic digital maps.

Some 2,269 water bodies (78%) are in need of repair. In addition, there is a shortage of more than 700 wells to improve water supply to pastures and provide water to livestock.

In addition, work on equipping the Bukhara Research and Production Center for seed production of desert-pasture plants with modern scientific laboratory equipment and supplies has not been completed.

During the discussion, senators emphasized the need to conduct an inventory of current regulations in the field of pasture management and monitoring, including a revision of the Law “On Pastures”, taking into account today’s changes in this area, as well as the tasks defined by law.

Proposals were also given for quarterly discussion in local Kengashes of people’s deputies of the work carried out in this area by relevant departments and providing assistance to them, attracting leading specialists, scientists and researchers to the regions and establishing work based on their recommendations.

Following the discussion, a corresponding Senate resolution was adopted.