Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 14 April, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with a presentation on the development of an agricultural engineering cluster.

In accordance with the resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 31 July 2019, a new system of state support for the system of production and purchase of agricultural machinery was created. This gives its results, farmers get access to productive equipment. In particular, only in the first quarter of this year, subsidies worth 23 billion soums were allocated for the purchase of 1.6 thousand pieces of equipment.

As a result of the modernization of production facilities carried out in 2021, the cost of tractors decreased by 4.6 thousand dollars. Thanks to this, the enterprises of the industry, which had previously worked at a loss, turned into a profit.

In order to develop the industry, an agricultural machinery cluster is being created on the basis of an industrial cluster in Chirchik. Today, the equipment of the former Tekhnolog and Agregat factories has been completely relocated here.

During the presentation, work in this direction and plans for the future were discussed.

- Agricultural machinery is a large and important industry. Productivity and food security depend on it. There is still a lot to be done in terms of mastering the production of modern equipment, quality and service, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said. 

To organize systematic work, it was decided to create a commission on agricultural machinery headed by the Prime Minister.

It was indicated that, first of all, it is necessary to establish the production of cultivators, seeders, mowers, chisels, harrows on the basis of the transferred capacities to the cluster in Chirchik. It is also planned to relocate the Tashkent Tractor Plant and launch the cluster in January 2023. Before that, it is important to study the demand of agricultural clusters and farmers, to form specific orders, it was noted at the event. 

Today, the demand for laser leveling equipment is high. In this regard, responsible persons were instructed to arrange the production of such equipment. Instructions were given to completely abandon obsolete tractors and create a new domestic model of the tractor.

It was noted that the use of combines for cotton harvesting will reach 35 percent this year, and 50 percent in 2023.

There are also opportunities to localize 90 types of components and reduce the cost of equipment by at least 12 percent by launching a foundry in Andijan by the end of the year.

Another problem that worries farmers and dekhkans is repair, search for spare parts and maintenance of equipment. In this regard, the President emphasized the need to create an integrated sales and service system in mechanical engineering, create service centers and 100 mobile teams in 14 regions.

Tasks for the training of specialists in the operation of new equipment and in the mechanization of agriculture as a whole were determined.