Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Reduced tillage, more efficient use of water and fertilizers, crop diversification, restoration of degraded land and digital monitoring tools are among the practices being implemented in different regions of Uzbekistan under the FOLUR–Uzbekistan project.
A correspondent from UzDaily, as part of a group of media representatives, visited FOLUR–Uzbekistan demonstration sites. Participants in the press tour observed the practical application of reduced-tillage, water- and fertilizer-saving technologies, as well as projects focused on ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation.
The project’s main practical results were presented during the press tour, with one of the key sites being the Baraka Baltimor farm in Yangibazar District of Khorezm Region.
A 30-hectare demonstration plot there is being used to compare conventional and reduced-tillage systems for cotton cultivation.
The Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Programme in Uzbekistan (FOLUR–Uzbekistan) is financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented in cooperation with the National Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Ecology and Climate Change, the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Cotton: less tillage, more efficient use of resources
At the demonstration site, specialists are studying whether stable yields can be achieved while reducing the number of agricultural operations and the use of production resources.
Under the conventional technology, chiseling is carried out twice, while the experimental approach eliminates the operation entirely. The number of harrowing and malawing operations has been reduced from three to one, while the number of irrigations has fallen from five to three.
The application of phosphorus fertilizers has also changed significantly. Under the conventional technology, 300 kg of ammophos is applied per hectare, compared with 100 kg on the reduced-tillage plot.
According to current calculations, the new approach can save about 35 liters of fuel and 200 kg of ammophos per hectare, while production costs are reduced to 4.07 million soums.
The application rates of ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and potassium chloride have not changed. The number of suspension treatments has also been reduced from five to three.
“Under modern conditions, it is necessary to consider the efficiency of using every cubic meter of water, every kilogram of fertilizer and every agricultural operation.
“The experience in Khorezm Region makes it possible to assess, based on specific indicators, the impact of reduced tillage on resource consumption, production costs and yields,” said Jamshid Abduzukhurov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan.
Based on the current condition of the crops at the demonstration site, the projected yield is 55–60 centners per hectare. This figure is preliminary, and the final results will be determined after harvesting is completed.
Principles of regenerative cotton farming
The trials in Khorezm are part of a broader approach based on regenerative agriculture principles.
The approach includes retaining crop residues on the soil surface, reducing mechanical tillage, crop rotation, applying fertilizers based on soil and leaf analysis, more efficient management of water resources and salinity, and regular pest monitoring.
These practices are being introduced gradually, taking into account the condition of individual fields, local soil and climatic conditions, and the specific challenges faced by each farm.
Sherzod Umarov, Deputy FAO Representative in Uzbekistan, stressed that regenerative agriculture does not imply a single solution for all areas.
“Each technology should be tested with consideration for local soil, water and climatic conditions. The experience being implemented in Khorezm Region helps transform scientific approaches into practical and economically viable solutions for farmers,” he said.
The farm is also using a special direct-seeding machine brought from Brazil. It allows cotton seeds to be placed at a specified depth and interval, while phosphorus fertilizers are applied directly near the seeds and the area where the root system will develop.
According to Turoboy Rajabov, head of Baraka Baltimor farm, the technology was initially tested together with neighboring farmers on 80 hectares. This year, its use has been expanded to 200 hectares.
Water as a key resource
Resource conservation under FOLUR–Uzbekistan is not limited to irrigated agriculture.
Three demonstration sites in Kamashi District of Kashkadarya Region are testing different rainwater harvesting technologies adapted to varying levels of terrain slope.
Gradoni terraces, trenches, runoff interception strips and crescent-shaped water-retention structures make it possible to collect precipitation while also reducing soil erosion.
Local tree and shrub species are being planted at the sites, including pistachio, almond, mulberry, elm, juzgun and saxaul.
Another technology is being tested in Sarchashma village in Shakhrisabz District of Kashkadarya Region.
The method involves storing winter spring water as ice using naturally low temperatures.
Four vertical installations produced 1,600 cubic meters of ice, which yielded about 1,000 cubic meters of water as it melted for practical use.
Crop diversification as a resilience tool
Another area of the project focuses on diversifying agricultural production.
Different varieties of wheat, barley, triticale, rye, mung beans, chickpeas and safflower are being tested in Chimbay and Nukus districts of Karakalpakstan.
Diversification is viewed as one way to increase the resilience of farms to climate risks, pest outbreaks and changes in market conditions. At the same time, it can contribute to improving soil conditions and expanding income sources for rural communities.
Data obtained from chickpea cultivation trials indicate that the crop could be considered as an alternative to rice.
The initiative therefore involves not only introducing new crops, but also developing more resilient agricultural production models in regions facing water shortages and other climate-related challenges.
Ecosystem restoration with local communities
The FOLUR project also includes a conservation component.
Nurseries are planned in Karauzyak, Beruniy and Kamashi districts with the participation of local communities. They are expected to propagate tree and plant species adapted to local natural conditions.
An important element of this work will be a payment-for-ecosystem-services model aimed simultaneously at restoring degraded ecosystems, conserving biodiversity and creating additional income sources for local communities.
This approach links environmental objectives with the socioeconomic interests of rural areas.
GIS technologies for decision-making
Digital tools are another component of the project.
Under FOLUR–Uzbekistan, a spatial analysis has been conducted of risks related to land degradation, land use and land cover, vegetation, terrain and soil salinity.
More than 25 sets of spatial data have been integrated, based on which more than 40 thematic maps and analytical products have been prepared.
The materials are being used to select project areas, monitor activities and support data-based decision-making.
In this context, digitalization is not a standalone area but a practical tool for managing natural resources and assessing the results of environmental and agricultural measures.
Feed base for wildlife
Some project activities are aimed at conserving natural ecosystems and creating a food base for wildlife.
A mixture of alfalfa, wheat and rapeseed has been planted across 1.5 hectares in the Khorezm National Nature Park.
In the Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve, alfalfa and wheat have been planted on another three hectares. The creation of feeding areas is aimed, among other things, at providing a food base for the Bukhara deer and other wildlife.
These activities complement the project’s agricultural practices and demonstrate FOLUR’s broader approach, which combines attention to land productivity, water resources, soil conditions and biodiversity conservation.
From individual trials to an integrated model
The practices presented during the press tour cover different natural and climatic zones of Uzbekistan, from irrigated agricultural land in Khorezm to arid areas of Kashkadarya and the ecosystems of Karakalpakstan.
At the same time, all the areas are linked by a common principle: improving the efficiency of natural resource use while maintaining land productivity and restoring ecosystems.
In Khorezm, the approach is being tested through reduced tillage and more efficient use of water, fuel and fertilizers. In Kashkadarya, it involves collecting and storing water and restoring vegetation.
In Karakalpakstan, the focus is on crop diversification. At the same time, GIS tools make it possible to collect and analyze data to assess land conditions and plan further measures.
Comparing the results from these demonstration sites is expected to show which practices can be adapted and scaled up in other regions of the country.
For Uzbekistan, where agriculture is closely linked to water availability, soil conditions, climate change and biodiversity conservation, such trials are significant not only as individual farm experiments but also as a basis for developing more sustainable models for managing land and natural resources.
