Mirziyoyev Orders Measures to Boost Meat and Milk Production

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan has reviewed proposals aimed at bolstering the nation's meat and dairy output, modernizing livestock and poultry operations, and enhancing domestic food security. The initiatives seek to address a significant gap between current production and rising demand.

Officials reported that annual meat consumption in Uzbekistan has reached 2.15 million tonnes, while production stands at approximately 1.6 million tonnes. This increased demand is attributed to both population growth and a surge in tourist arrivals.

To bridge this deficit, the government has formulated a livestock development program for 2026–2028. This program intends to boost meat production by an additional 190,000 tonnes through the revitalization of dormant enterprises, support for specialized regions, construction of new facilities for household farms, and the implementation of various investment projects.

The plan includes reactivating 103 livestock enterprises. Proposed measures for these entities involve debt restructuring or repayment over a period of up to 10 years, allocation of land for fodder cultivation, and provision of breeding livestock. These interventions are projected to support 33,000 head of cattle, leading to an annual increase of 12,000 tonnes of meat and 40,000 tonnes of milk.

In 13 districts specializing in livestock, authorities plan to optimize the use of 75,000 hectares of fodder land, fund small-scale projects, and establish milk collection centers and feed sales points.

Support for household farms is also a key component. The program outlines the construction of 11,000 lightweight cattle sheds, designed to accommodate 421,000 head of cattle.

Furthermore, 802 new projects, valued at 3 trillion soums, are expected to facilitate the raising of over 68,000 head of cattle and 186,000 sheep and goats. These projects are anticipated to contribute an additional 20,000 tonnes of meat and 120,000 tonnes of milk annually.

A presentation also highlighted findings from an artificial intelligence-based assessment of livestock complexes in Karakalpakstan. The analysis revealed that 20 surveyed complexes had a combined debt of 109.6 billion soums, with half of them categorized as high-risk. Key challenges identified were insufficient feed resources and inadequate infrastructure. To revitalize the sector, officials proposed reducing enterprise debt, strengthening the feed base, gradually restoring livestock complexes to operation, and supplying them with breeding animals.

The program also includes the import of 150,000 sheep from Mongolia, 100,000 head of breeding cattle from China and European nations, and 2,000 head of cattle from Belarus. Government estimates suggest these imports will further increase annual meat production by 44,000 tonnes.

Overall, US$463 million is earmarked for investment in the livestock sector.

A significant focus will be placed on assisting household farms and specialized mahallas. Currently, 2,407 mahallas across 191 districts specialize in livestock farming, supporting approximately 3.9 million people. The program aims to enhance their access to breeding livestock, artificial insemination services, animal feed, veterinary care, and subsidies.

In the realm of breeding livestock production, plans include establishing farms with a capacity for 200 head of cattle in 13 districts, performing artificial insemination on 500,000 cows annually, and introducing embryo transfer technologies.

A proposal to establish the Livestock Breeders Association of Uzbekistan was also presented. This association would advocate for producers' interests, foster cooperation, advance breeding programs, support scientific research and innovation, provide financial assistance, and promote exports.

Officials also unveiled "Smart Fermer," a unified digital platform designed to allow farmers to register livestock, request veterinary services, receive advice on artificial insemination, feeding, and pasture management, apply for subsidies, and access AI-driven recommendations.

In the poultry sector, projects totaling US$432 million are planned. By 2028, Uzbekistan aims to increase poultry meat production by an additional 100,000 tonnes, expand compound feed production capacity to 3.3 million tonnes, and raise the proportion of modern slaughter systems from 20% to 50%.

Following the presentation, President Mirziyoyev directed officials to conduct thorough assessments of the economic viability of all projects, ensure the judicious use of allocated funds, implement digital accounting and monitoring systems, and take steps to guarantee a consistent supply of high-quality and affordable food products to the domestic market.