Center for seed production: "The varieties of tomatoes and cucumbers are imported to Uzbekistan from abroad"

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- An open dialogue was held today in the conference hall of the Agency of Information and Mass Communications with the participation of Oliy Majlis deputies, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Committee of Forestry and journalists.

During the dialogue, Rafikjon Khabiev, deputy director of the Center for Seed Development under the Ministry of Agriculture, noted that, until April 2018, Uzbekistan had not developed a system of seed production of agricultural crops with the exception of cotton and grain. Rafikjon Khabiev said: “Until recently, farmers and entrepreneurs themselves were engaged in seed production.”

“The Center for the Development of Seed Industry was established by presidential decree. Currently, the Center is engaged not only in the production of cotton and grain seeds, but also in vegetables, melons and other crops, both for the domestic market and for export,” he added.

“Unfortunately, while seeds of tomatoes and cucumbers for greenhouses are mainly imported from abroad. According to the documents submitted to us by the state tax and customs authorities, it was revealed that over the past 3 years 140 tons of seeds were imported from abroad,” he said. Rafikjon Khabiev added: “Of course, seed export exists all over the world, no country can produce 100% of the required seed material, therefore exchange in this area is very developed. However, I want to note that breeding work in the field of seed production is effectively organized in Uzbekistan.”

“Also, previously there was no quality control over the seeds sold at the bazaars and responsibility for the sale of inappropriate goods. Therefore, the seed could sell anyone. This issue has now been resolved.

According to the law on seed production, the Inspectorate for the Control of the Agro-Industrial Complex is obliged to control the quality of seeds, as well as the activities of producers, distributors and other participants in the seed market,” Rafikjon Khabiev noted.