Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Presidential Resolution approved the Strategy for water resources management and development of the irrigation sector in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2021–2023.

The Strategy will ensure the next:

● reduction from 526 thousand hectares to 424 thousand hectares of the irrigated area with a low level of water supply;

● bringing the introduction of water-saving irrigation technologies from 308 thousand hectares to 1.1 million hectares, including drip irrigation technologies - from 121 thousand hectares to 822 thousand hectares;

● reduction from 1,926 thousand hectares to 1,888 thousand hectares of saline lands;

● re-introduction of 232 thousand hectares of irrigated land areas out of agricultural use;

● bringing up to 18,576 units of the number of water facilities keeping water accounting based on the digital technology “Smart Water”;

● transfer to automated control based on digital technologies of 60 large water facilities;

● online monitoring of electricity consumption and water consumption at 5,231 pumping units at 1,688 pumping stations of the Ministry of Water Resources;

● Implementation of a total of 124 projects in the water sector based on public-private partnerships.

Until 1 October 2021, a zero customs duty rate has been established for the import of ethylene polymers (TN VED code 3901) and propylene polymers (TN VED code 3902).

Until 1 July 2021, an automated interdepartmental information system of water resources will be launched in stages.