China is among the countries that have chosen a unique path to reform the agricultural sector and have achieved enormous success in agriculture.

The economic growth of this country is connected specifically with agriculture. Using such advanced experience, it is possible to unleash Uzbekistan’s potential in the agricultural sector fully.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in 2021, 119.9 thousand tons of fruits and vegetables worth $102.2 million were supplied to China, and in 2022 – 146.8 thousand tons of fruits and vegetables worth $121.1 million. In 2023, this figure increased: 214 thousand tons of fruits, vegetables, and food products worth $183.4 million were exported to China. Among the products are mung bean (worth $94.5 million), prunes (worth $7.6 million), grapes (worth $12 million), and cherries ($308 thousand). 104.5 thousand tons of fruits and vegetables and food products worth $106.3 million were imported from China, in particular, tea ($31.3 million), confectionery ($4.6 million), tangerines ($5.4 million), pears ($4.3 million), tobacco products ($9.7 million), sunflower seeds ($27.2 million), animal feed ($1.9 million).

Documents and agreements on the export and import of agricultural products were signed between Uzbekistan and China. In 2020-2022, 33 projects worth $384.8 million were implemented ($203.83 million were disbursed), 21 projects were implemented within the framework of the regional investment program, and $45.8 million of investments were attracted from China.

In agriculture, in accordance with the memorandum concluded between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and China’s Citic Group, a project is being implemented to create a fruit, vegetable, and livestock farming cluster. The project’s cost, designed for 2022-2026, is $15 million.

Uzbekistan experts note that studying the Chinese practice of organizing clusters in livestock and rice farming is necessary. A memorandum on the opening of the United Rice Research Center was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the China National Rice Research Institute. In addition, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences also allocated $3.6 million to purchase necessary laboratory equipment, agricultural machinery, units for the agricultural sector, and joint biotechnological scientific experiments.

Tashkent State Agrarian University and JV Peng Sheng LLC, together with the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development, entered into trilateral cooperation to grow new types of agricultural products in Uzbekistan.

Mukhayyo Toshqorayeva, UzA