Mirziyoyev Announces New Measures to Support Agriculture and Livestock for 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 10 December, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke at the ceremony dedicated to Agriculture Workers’ Day, announcing the introduction of a rating system and reduced-interest loans for grain and cotton producers.

Special attention will be given to the development of meat and dairy livestock farming: in 2026, the country plans to import 100,000 head of cattle and 200,000 sheep and goats, while subsidies for importing breeding livestock and chicks will be extended for five years.

Farmers engaged in cotton and grain production will be granted the right to build lightweight structures of up to 2,000 square meters on their land for livestock development. A total of US$157 million from the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development will be allocated for meat and dairy production projects.

Loans will be provided at an annual interest rate of 17% for a term of 10 years, including a three-year grace period.

In addition, Uzbekistan plans to attract US$150 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and US$60 million from the Asian Development Bank, with the aim of launching 1,000 new projects worth 5 trillion soums. Among them, 340 small-scale farms will be established following the French model, each with 50–60 head of livestock.

In the fisheries sector, the country will cooperate with Hungary and Norway. Two breeding centers for carp and cold-water fish will be established in the Yangiyul and Bostanlyk districts.

Measures include compensation of 50% of costs for importing breeding fish, exemption of fish farms from customs duties on recirculating aquaculture systems, incubation and laboratory equipment. Incentives for implementing intensive technologies will cover land and property taxes, while farms that inefficiently use reservoirs will be subject to higher rates.

The President also addressed subsidies for agriculture, with the total planned volume for 2026 set at 2.2 trillion soums.

The recently established Agency for Agricultural Payments, created at the end of November, will simplify the process: the number of application processing stages will be reduced from four to two, and the payment period shortened from one month to 15 days.

All payments will be made under farmer-friendly conditions and in a timely manner.