Digitalization of agriculture in Uzbekistan increases the competitiveness of the industry

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Modern challenges such as the rapid growth of the global population, the adverse effects of climate change, and the current geopolitical situation demand increased efficiency and sustainability in the agricultural sector of every nation. In addressing these issues, the digitalization of agriculture, optimization of management, and implementation of information technologies play a crucial role. These advancements enhance labor productivity and ensure the competitiveness of the agricultural industry.

The Republic of Uzbekistan, as a country with a steadily growing population and an increasing demand for agricultural products, is no exception. According to statistical data, as of October 1, 2024, the permanent population of Uzbekistan reached 37.3 million. Projections by the Institute for Forecasting and Macroeconomic Research indicate that by 2030, the population will exceed 41 million. This growth places a significant responsibility on the agricultural sector, alongside healthcare and education, as population increases naturally drive higher demand for quality food and agricultural products.

To cultivate high-quality agricultural produce and improve crop yields, it is essential to address shortcomings at every stage — from soil preparation for planting to the delivery of the harvested crops to processing facilities. This includes the timely execution of agronomic measures and ensuring transparency in the sector. Achieving these goals is possible only through the comprehensive digitalization of agriculture.

In this regard, particular attention is being paid to the digitalization of Uzbekistan’s agricultural industry. In accordance with adopted legal and regulatory frameworks, efforts are being made to expand the development of integrated information and geoinformation systems in various areas of agriculture. Simultaneously, the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) and software solutions in production processes is being actively promoted.

To implement these reforms effectively, structural units and organizations responsible for digitalization within ministries, committees, agencies, and other state bodies in the agricultural sector have established robust operational mechanisms.

Presidential Decree No. PP-5006, dated February 24, 2021, titled “On Additional Measures to Improve the System of Agricultural Land Use and Protection”, introduced the position of Deputy Minister of Agriculture responsible for the digitalization of the agricultural sector, along with subordinate departments. Additionally, in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 794, dated December 17, 2020, “On Measures for the Development of Digitalization in the Agro-Industrial Complex and Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, the Ministry of Agriculture established the “Center of Digitalization of Agro Industry”, a limited liability company tasked with developing information systems and providing technical user support.

The Presidential Decree No. PP-257, dated August 2, 2023, “On Measures to Implement Advanced Digital Technologies in the Agricultural Sector”, and the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 330, dated August 3, 2023, “On Additional Measures to Introduce Advanced Digital Technologies in the Agricultural Sector”, outlined strategic directions for the digital transformation of agriculture.

From 2021 to 2024, significant state support was provided to farmers and agricultural clusters. This included preferential loans, agricultural machinery testing, training to improve workers’ knowledge and skills, rational utilization of land and water resources, and subsidies for the adoption of machinery and advanced technologies. Furthermore, land leases were facilitated to enhance productivity. Beyond the existing information systems, 16 new information and geoinformation systems have been deployed to address critical areas of the sector effectively.

 

System of state support and subsidies for agricultural producers

 

To ensure food security, a state support and subsidy system for agricultural producers has been established. These processes have been fully digitalized through the “Agro-Subsidy” information system.

Launched in March 2022, the “Agro-Subsidy” system has digitalized the entire process of submitting applications, obtaining approvals from authorized bodies and organizations, issuing relevant conclusions for farmers, private agricultural households, clusters, and other entrepreneurs, and transferring subsidy funds directly to applicants’ accounts.

Initially, the system allowed for access to 19 types of subsidies. Today, this number has increased to 45, with all processes—from application submission to the transfer of funds — being fully automated. The “Agro-Subsidy” system allocates subsidies for the following key areas:

         •        Implementation of water-saving technologies;

         •        Irrigation works and construction of pumping stations;

         •        Food processing;

         •        Horticulture and greenhouse farming;

         •        Cooperative-based work with owners of household plots;

         •        Production of viticultural and winemaking products;

         •        Veterinary and livestock farming;

         •        Sericulture and wool production.

To date, the system has received 9,984 subsidy applications, of which 7,545 have been reviewed, resulting in the allocation of 430 billion UZS in subsidies.

 

Development of a geographic information system and spatial database

 

The New Uzbekistan Development Strategy for 2022–2026 aims to double the income of dehkans (small-scale farmers) and agricultural producers through scientifically driven, intensive development of agriculture, while ensuring an annual growth rate of at least 5% in the sector. Achieving these goals requires a systematic approach to managing land and resources, improving the reclamation status of irrigated lands, and boosting farmers’ income through the development of a comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) for land management.

In 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture introduced and began extensive use of its GIS platform. Based on an integrated GIS framework for collecting, monitoring, and analyzing real-time field data and satellite imagery, specialized geoportals have been developed. These portals provide services for the efficient use of agricultural land, monitoring, crop planning, calculating the normative cost of arable land, soil assessment, geobotanical research, and decision-making for crop rotation optimization.

The GIS includes:

         •        Monitoring of land and crops, including observation of vegetation during growth periods;

         •        Meteorological and weather data integration;

         •        Data on the normative cost of agricultural lands;

         •        Geobotanical research findings on pasture vegetation and livestock fodder resources;

         •        Fertilizer application planning by plot contours;

         •        A system for providing recommendations to land users.

Additionally, the GIS allows for the upload of multi-spectral satellite imagery for all regions of Uzbekistan every 5–15 days. Using artificial intelligence technologies, the system enables visual observation of each agricultural field, monitoring crop vegetation, and analyzing growth problems. It identifies issues such as non-growth in fields, categorizes fields into low-, medium-, and high-yield groups, and detects nitrogen or water deficiencies in crops.

 

Agricultural information system “Agroplatform”: a single-access service point for over 44,000 producers

 

The “Agroplatform” information system serves as a comprehensive platform for financing cotton, grain, and horticultural production, offering integrated financial services.

Through this system, which enables seamless information exchange with the databases of the Ministry of Agriculture, other government entities, commercial banks, and insurance companies, agricultural producers, agro-clusters, and service organizations gain access to the following capabilities:

         •        Placement of crops by land plot contours, considering soil quality (bonitet score) and water availability, planning yields based on this data, and allocation of preferential credit resources;

         •        Automation of crop insurance processes, loan repayment management, and execution of electronic contracts.

The “Agroplatform” also provides efficient credit resource management. It ensures timely electronic review of documentation by government agencies, transparency in credit allocation processes, and overall efficiency. By 2024, the platform has been actively utilized by more than 200 agro-clusters and over 44,000 farming households across the country.

 

Electronic information system “E-Ijara”: a convenient way to lease agricultural land

 

Land reforms are actively underway in Uzbekistan, following the Presidential Decree of June 8, 2021, “On Measures to Ensure Equality and Transparency in Land Relations, Reliable Protection of Land Rights, and Transforming Land into a Market Asset.” The decree introduced a new mechanism for allocating agricultural land through open electronic competitions. In line with this initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the automated information system “E-Ijara” nearly a year ago.

The “E-Ijara” system facilitates the collection, review, and approval of applications for leasing agricultural land in coordination with authorized agencies and organizations. It is integrated with the information systems of approximately 10 ministries and government bodies. Currently, the system simplifies the process of submitting land plots for dehkan farming competitions and enables the hassle-free electronic processing of rights and documentation for competition winners.

Additionally, from March 1, 2024, electronic online auctions replaced open electronic competitions for leasing agricultural land. The “E-Ijara” system and the electronic trading platform “E-Auksion” are now widely utilized for forming agricultural cooperatives on leased land for dehkan farming and allocating land plots—totaling 60,500 hectares—on preferential terms for young people.

As of May 2024, 794,600 dehkan farms have been allocated 229,000 hectares of land through electronic competitions and auctions. Additionally, 262,000 hectares of land for farming activities have been granted to over 5,400 farming enterprises, including more than 3,000 newly established farms.

 

“Reagro” – A System for Assessing and Rating Cotton-Textile Clusters

 

The “digitalization” of business processes in agricultural enterprises reduces the production cost of agricultural goods, ensures market transparency, and strengthens food security by leveraging modern analytical methods, data, intelligent tools, and systems for agricultural production alongside long-term and short-term market forecasting.

To automate the rating of clusters based on key performance indicators, the “Reagro” information system was launched. This system evaluates 155 cotton-textile clusters in agriculture, establishing a unified rating mechanism that enables objective comparison and ranking based on predefined criteria and methodologies.

Primary Objectives of the “Reagro” Information System:

         •        Gather information across various operational aspects of clusters, including efficiency, technological levels, financial performance, management effectiveness, and other key metrics.

         •        Analyze collected data to develop cluster rankings.

         •        Define relationships among criteria and their weighting in the overall cluster ranking.

         •        Present cluster ranking results through reports, charts, graphs, and other visual aids for convenient user access.

         •        Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of cluster data processed by the system, while maintaining an objective evaluation framework.

The rating data generated by the information system are used by farming enterprises entering into contractual relationships with cotton-textile clusters, by the cotton-textile clusters themselves, and by government authorities.

The “CropAgro” information system – rational management of irrigated and other types of cultivated areas.

By the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 330 of August 3, 2023, “On additional measures for the implementation of advanced digital technologies in the agricultural sector”, the processes of developing the “CropAgro” information system and crop planning were digitized.

In particular, the “CropAgro” information system was implemented, allowing crops to be placed on an open map based on proposals from land users. The system addresses tasks such as improving the accuracy and relevance of information on arable lands of land users, ensuring transparency, and reviewing proposals.

The data generated through the “CropAgro” information system not only ensures timely government support for producers but also enables the planning of agricultural crops for the next harvest, which contributes to ensuring food security. Additionally, it allows farmers to refine the contours of irrigated and cultivated lands within their property boundaries.

To date, 107,846 farmers and clusters are registered in the “CropAgro” information system. Of the total area, 1,023,938.1 hectares are dedicated to cotton, 1,019,179.8 hectares to grain, and 46 types of agricultural crops occupy 419,246 hectares.

 

The “AgroPro” Information System – an automated information system that allows for the online calculation of business plans for clusters and farm enterprises, taking into account agrotechnical measures.

 

It is known that today a number of efforts are underway to address issues affecting farm enterprises, to prevent delays in the timely execution of agrotechnical measures, and to accelerate the digitization of tasks related to the creation of conveniences for the use of agricultural machinery.

In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture has developed the “AgroPro” information system, which enables farmers to calculate their business plans online, considering agrotechnical measures.

This information system consists of tools and data that provide the user (agricultural producers) with necessary information on agrotechnical measures for the main types of agricultural crops. This system has created software conveniences for selecting agricultural machinery to carry out agrotechnical measures and for creating electronic technological maps.

Additionally, the system provides the ability to offer information on agrotechnical measures based on the type of crop, land, and sowing scheme, as well as to offer agricultural machinery and equipment rental services. It also calculates and recommends fertilizer rates (potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen) based on land categories and forecasts monthly material resource needs and expenses, such as fuel, fertilizers, and agricultural machinery wages.

It is important to note that during the development and enhancement of the information system, data exchange has also been established with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Geoinformation System. This has created opportunities for assessing crop vegetation, the level of greenness, issues in development or growth, including poor germination rates, monitoring the state of weak, medium, and very good development, and obtaining data by field contours.

Of course, the Ministry of Agriculture is not limiting its efforts to this work on the digitalization of the agricultural sector. There are still planned tasks ahead. After all, today, without the digitalization of agriculture, it is very difficult to increase competitiveness in the industry and determine the policy in this direction. The successful implementation of these tasks will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the socio-economic development of the republic and contribute to the exploration of new aspects of modern development.

 

Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov