Agricultural practices and CO 2 emissions: transitioning to sustainable farming in Uzbekistan

“MILLIY IQTISODIYOTNI ISLOH QILISH VA BARQAROR RIVOJLANTIRISH ISTIQBOLLARI”

mavzusida xalqaro ilmiy-amaliy konferensiyasi

17

AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND CO

2

EMISSIONS: TRANSITIONING

TO SUSTAINABLE FARMING IN UZBEKISTAN

Usmanov Anvar

Head of Sector of the Research Center under

The Tashkent state University of Economics

a.usmanov@tsue.uz

Khamdamov Shoh-Jakhon

1,2,3

1

Researcher, Research center CEDR of Tashkent State University of Economics

2

Faculty of Economics and Humanities, Mamun University,

3

Faculty of economics, Alfraganus University,

shhamdamov@mail.ru

Agriculture plays an important role in Uzbekistan’s economy, making a

significant contribution to GDP and employing a large portion of the population.

However, traditional agricultural practices have resulted in increased carbon

dioxide (CO2) emissions, which contribute to climate change. Unsustainable

water use, soil degradation, and heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers are some

of the key factors behind the sector’s carbon footprint. In recent years,

Uzbekistan has begun to shift to sustainable agricultural practices to reduce CO2

emissions while maintaining agricultural productivity. This article examines the

relationship between agricultural practices and CO2 emissions in Uzbekistan

and explores the country’s transition to sustainable agriculture.

Uzbekistan's agricultural practices are deeply rooted in its historical context

and have significant implications for CO2 emissions. The country's agriculture is

characterized by extensive irrigation and a focus on cotton and wheat

production, which are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. These

practices, while essential for the country's economy, pose environmental

challenges, particularly in terms of CO2 emissions.

Uzbekistan's agriculture heavily relies on irrigation, a legacy of Soviet-era

policies aimed at maximizing cotton production. This has led to significant

environmental degradation, including soil salinity and water quality issues[1,2].

The primary crops, cotton and wheat, are part of a biennial rotation with rice,

which contributes to high greenhouse gas emissions. The global warming

potential (GWP) of these systems is substantial, with emissions ranging from 500

to 3000 kg CO2 eq. ha−1, primarily due to nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane

(CH4) emissions from fertilization and irrigation practices[3,4].

Methane emissions are particularly notable in flooded rice fields, while N2O

emissions are significant in cotton fields, exacerbated by the use of nitrogen
fertilizers[5,6].

Land reforms in Uzbekistan have transitioned from state-controlled

collective farms to smaller private farms, impacting agricultural productivity and

resource use efficiency[7,8].

“MILLIY IQTISODIYOTNI ISLOH QILISH VA BARQAROR RIVOJLANTIRISH ISTIQBOLLARI”

mavzusida xalqaro ilmiy-amaliy konferensiyasi

18

Despite these reforms, the agricultural sector remains heavily regulated, with

state-imposed quotas for cotton and wheat production, which limits flexibility in

crop selection and contributes to continued environmental stress[9,10].

Efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions include the introduction of

renewable energy technologies, such as biogas and solar installations, which

have reduced emissions by over 1.3 million tons of CO2 in recent years[11,12].

There is potential for reducing emissions through improved fertilization and

irrigation practices and converting annual cropping systems to perennial

plantations on marginal lands[12,14].

While Uzbekistan's agricultural practices are a significant source of CO2

emissions, they are also crucial for the country's economy and food security. The

challenge lies in balancing economic needs with environmental sustainability.

Innovations in renewable energy and sustainable farming practices offer

promising avenues for reducing emissions, but require substantial investment

and policy support to be effective.

Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector is a key source of CO2 emissions in the

country, driven by unsustainable practices such as overuse of fertilizers, soil

degradation, and reliance on fossil fuels for mechanization. However, a shift to

sustainable agricultural practices offers a viable path to reducing these
emissions. The introduction of organic farming, no-till agriculture, agroforestry,

and renewable energy solutions have already shown promising results in

reducing CO2 emissions while improving environmental sustainability.

Continued government support, financial investment, and farmer training are

needed to ensure the success of these initiatives. Sustainable agriculture can play

a critical role in reducing Uzbekistan’s carbon footprint, contributing to global

efforts to mitigate climate change and promoting long-term environmental

sustainability in the country.

References:

1.

Gómez, A., Dopazo, C., & Fueyo, N.

(2015). The future of energy in Uzbekistan. Energy,

85, 329-338.

2.

Turakulov, Z., Kamolov, A., Norkobilov, A., Variny, M., & Fallanza, M. (2024). Assessment

of CO2 Emission and Decarbonization Measures in Uzbekistan. International Journal of
Environmental Research, 18(2), 28.

3.

Khаmdаmov, S. J. (2024). The Effect of Labor Market Reforms on Economic Growth in

Uzbekistan. American Journal of Corporate Management, 1(2), 7-12.

4.

Shoh-Jakhon, K. (2023). Theoretical and Methodological Aspects of Intensive Economic

Growth in Ensuring Sustainable Economic Development. Social and Economic Studies within the

Framework of Emerging Global Developments Volume 3, 283.

5.

Khamdamov, S. J., & Usmanov, A. (2022). New methodological recommendations for

economic growth. Архив научных исследований, 2

(1).

6.

Хамдамов, Ш. Ж. (2022). БАРҚАРОР ИҚТИСОДИЙ РИВОЖЛАНИШНИНГ НАЗАРИЙ

ЖИҲАТЛАРИ. Iqtisodiyot va taʼlim, 23(Maxsus_son), 19

-24.

7.

Ҳамдамов, Ш. Ж. (2021). ЎЗБЕКИСТОНДА ИНТЕНСИВ ИҚТИСОДИЙ ЎСИШ

ОМИЛЛАРИНИНГ ЎЗАРО САЛМОҒИНИ АНИҚЛАШ. Iqtisodiyot va taʼlim, (5), 8

4-88.

“MILLIY IQTISODIYOTNI ISLOH QILISH VA BARQAROR RIVOJLANTIRISH ISTIQBOLLARI”

mavzusida xalqaro ilmiy-amaliy konferensiyasi

19

8.

Khаmdаmov, S. J. (2024). Impact of Exchange Rate Fluctuations on Uzbekistan's Export

-

Led Growth. Excellencia: International Multi-disciplinary Journal of Education (2994-9521),

2(8), 431-436.

9.

Yusupov, S., Boymuradov, S., Bobamuratova, D., Shukhratova, M., Marupov, I., Akramova,

D. T., ... & Muradova, D. A. (2022, December). Diagnostic aspects of zygomatico-orbital complex

fractures with the use of modern digital technologies. In Proceedings of the 6th International

Conference on Future Networks & Distributed Systems (pp. 399-403).

10.

Khаmdаmov, S. J. (2024). Energy Sector Development and its Contribution to

Uzbekistan's Economic Expansion. American Journal of Corporate Management, 1(2), 1-6.

11.

Muftaydinova, S. K., Chuprynin, V. D., Fayzullin, L. Z., Buralkina, N. A., Muminova, Z. A.,

Asaturova, A. V., ... & Abdullayev, S. I. (2022, December). Expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor
(EPHA1) in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with deep infiltrative endometriosis
use of modern digital technologies. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Future

Networks & Distributed Systems (pp. 416-421).

12.

Khamdamov, S. J., & Akramova, D. (2021). Aspects of the vegetative disorders

occurrence in the Parkinson's disease and Vascular Parkinsonism. Journal of the Neurological
Sciences, 429.

13.

Khаmdаmov, S. J. (2024). The Role of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Uzbekistan's

Economic Growth. Excellencia: International Multi-disciplinary Journal of Education (2994-

9521), 2(8), 437-443.

14.

Ozodbek, T., & Zumira, N. (2023). Uzbekistan: Choosing Green Future. The Journal of

Economics, Finance and Innovation, 232-239.

ПУТИ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭНЕРГООБЕСПЕЧЕННОСТИ ЭКОНОМИКИ

УЗБЕКИСТАНА

Хамидулин Михаил Борисович

д.э.н., профессор, Академия государственного управления

при Президенте Республики Узбекистан,

Ташкентский филиал РЭУ им. Г.В. Плеханова

Безумие делать одно и то же снова, и снова,

и ожидать другого результата

А. Эйнштейн

Отправной точкой данной статьи является постулат, что

без энергии

невозможно развитие ни человека, ни любого живого существа, ни

экономики страны.

Французский экономист Г.Жиро в 2014 году

проанализировав данные по пятидесяти странам за последние 40 лет

пришел к выводу «Первичная энергия –

главный фактор роста ВВП. При

прочих равных условиях увеличение (уменьшение) потребления
первичной энергии на душу населения на 10,0 процентов ведет к росту

(уменьшению) ВВП на душу населения на 6,0

-

7,0 процентов». [1]

А это означает, что для достижения цели 21 Стратегии развития

Нового Узбекистана: «Увеличение объема ВВП на душу населения в

последующие пять лет в 1,6 раза за счет обеспечения стабильно высоких