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CURRENT ISSUES IN ENSURING FOOD SECURITY IN UZBEKISTAN
Bozorboyev Bektemir Nurquvvat o‘g‘li
3rd-year student of the Management program at Gulistan State University
Annotation:
This article analyzes the current state, problems, and solutions related to ensuring
food security in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Scientific studies emphasize that food security
should not only be assessed by the volume of production but also by criteria such as physical and
economic accessibility, quality, and sustainability.
Key words:
food security, agricultural policy, food system, resources, agriculture, sustainability,
problems
Introduction
Food security is the condition in which every person has consistent physical, economic, and
social access to sufficient and healthy food products. For Uzbekistan, food security is recognized
not only as a factor of health and sustainable living standards but also as one of the key
components of national security. Although the country is implementing agrarian reforms,
digitalization, and scientific-technological innovations, there are still a number of problems that
pose a threat to food security.
1. General Overview of the Food Security Situation
In recent years, the volume of food production in Uzbekistan has been increasing. In particular,
wheat production has approached 7 million tons, and the volume of potatoes, vegetables, and
fruit-vegetable products is growing by an average of 5–6% per year. The production of meat and
dairy products partially meets domestic demand. However, due to population growth,
urbanization, climate change, and global price instability, the existing potential cannot fully
guarantee food security.
2. Analysis of pressing issues
a) Water Resource Shortage
The main branches of agriculture, especially irrigated farming, are suffering from water
shortages. Each year, 90% of water is consumed by the agricultural sector, which deprives other
sectors of essential resources.
b) Low Productivity and Technological Delays
Many farming enterprises still use outdated equipment and agrotechnologies. This leads to an
increase in food prices and a decline in product quality.
c) Insufficient Logistics and Storage Infrastructure
After food products are produced, weak systems for transportation, storage, and processing lead
to significant losses. Up to 25–30% of vegetables and fruits are wasted.
d) Dependence on Imports and Price Instability
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A significant portion of meat, oil, sugar, and other products is imported. Fluctuations in global
market prices directly lead to crises in the domestic market.
e) Low Efficiency of Agricultural Policy and Institutions
There is no adequately coordinated strategy among the institutions responsible for ensuring food
security.
3. Scientifically-Based Proposals and Recommendations
• Implementation of digital agrotechnologies: smart irrigation, monitoring with drones,
agrometeorological systems.
• Development of a knowledge transfer system for farmers: agronomic training, mobile
applications, agro-consulting centers.
• Creating food reserves: establishing strategic stocks and ensuring population protection during
emergencies.
• Strengthening cooperation and clustering: uniting farmers and enterprises based on the cluster
model.
• Improving the food quality and safety system: modernizing laboratories and ensuring
compliance with safety standards.
Table 1.
Balance Indicators of Main Food Products (2024)
Product
Production
(thousand tons)
Import (thousand
tons)
Self-sufficiency
(%)
Wheat
7000
800
90
Potato
3000
200
94
Meat
1500
300
83
Fruits
and
vegetables
6000
350
94
Picture 1.
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Level
of
Losses
in
the
Food
Supply
Chain
Conclusion
Although significant achievements have been made in ensuring food security in Uzbekistan, the
system still faces pressing challenges. Water scarcity, low productivity, infrastructure issues, and
dependence on imports are factors that pose threats to security. Addressing these issues requires
the integration of science, innovation, and state policy.
References:
1. FAO. Uzbekistan country profile.
. org/ countrypro files/uzb.
2. Statistics Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan. https://stat.uz
3. World Bank. Uzbekistan Food Security Update 2024. https://www.worldbank.org
4. UN FAO Food Security Report 2023. https://www.fao.org.
