President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on 25 May on measures to improve the plant protection system.
Plant protection is a set of measures that are important for ensuring the quality and safety of food products and increasing their exports. The implementation of these measures is currently carried out by the joint-stock company “Uzagrokimyokhimoya”.
In recent years, the supply of mineral fertilizers and chemicals, which is one of the functions assigned to the joint-stock company, began to independently deal with clusters and farms, as well as other business entities. The demand for this area of activity and other services of Uzagrokimehimoya is falling.
In this regard, the meeting discussed issues of creating a new plant protection system, effective deployment of agrochemical services in the field.
It was proposed to abolish the joint stock company Uzagrokimehimoya, to transfer its powers and functions to other structures. Thus, the functions of plant protection and locust control will be transferred to the State Plant Quarantine Inspectorate. The fight against the unpaired silkworm will be entrusted to the Uzbekipaksanoat Association, its member clusters, as well as regional khokimiyats. The supply of mineral fertilizers and chemicals will be entirely transferred to the private sector in accordance with the principles of the free market. Entrepreneurs will also provide services for the chemical treatment of plants on a competitive basis.
The head of state approved this proposal and instructed to create a Republican Commission headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and territorial commissions headed by the khokims of the regions to implement these transformations.
The President stressed the need to create biological laboratories and “plant clinics”, attract qualified agronomists and entomologists, and create a wide network of agrochemical services available to every farmer.
The task was set to take into account the peculiarities of each region. So, in Surkhandarya, the alfalfa bug is widespread, in Bukhara region – wilt disease, in other regions – tomato moth.
The importance of studying foreign experience in the field of plant protection, developing a methodology for the use of chemicals, taking into account quantitative and temporal norms, was emphasized.
Agrobank was appointed responsible for financial support for the development of the sector. At the first stage, the bank will open a credit line for 150 billion soums for the organization of modern laboratories, the purchase of equipment and technology, as well as the provision of working capital to service enterprises.
The issue of support to the private sector in the field of plant protection will also be touched upon. It was noted that interest on loans for laboratory and other equipment purchased by entrepreneurs, in the part exceeding the base rate, will be compensated from the budget. And from the Entrepreneurship Support Fund, a loan guarantee will be provided in the amount of up to 50 percent.
Entrepreneurs will be able to count on compensation for 30 percent of the costs of laboratory analysis of soil and plant composition provided to farmers and dehkans. The current tax rates for entrepreneurs providing biological and chemical services will be reduced by 50 percent.
The President paid special attention to the development of science and training of personnel for the sphere. He emphasized the need to improve the material and technical base of the Research Institute for Plant Protection, to attract qualified personnel and foreign specialists.
The task was set to develop a government decree on strengthening the system of training specialized specialists at the Tashkent State Agrarian University and its branches, increasing the scientific potential and providing them with modern teaching and laboratory equipment.
It was instructed to carry out, with the involvement of foreign agronomists operating in our country, retraining of domestic mid-level specialists.
The need to expand services for the protection of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers in cities was also indicated.
Responsible persons of the sphere and khokims of the regions reported on the measures that will be taken for the effective organization of the new system.
