Uzbekistan exports 700,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables

According to the ministry, in last ten years the export of fruits and vegetables in natural expression rose from 400,000 tonnes to over 700,000 tonnes. The volume of exports in money expression rose by 18 times in the reporting period.

In last several years, Uzbekistan carried out reforms on decreasing cotton fields and increase production of food cultures such as grain, vegetables, potatoes, melons and gourds.

In the result the share of areas, allocated for grain, rose from 25.7% in 1991 to 45% in 2014, potatoes, melons and gourds – from 7% to 8.8% and share of technical cultures decreased from 41.9% to 35.4%.

In last five years, the area, allocated to potatoes, melons and gourds, rose by 19% and area of gardens and vineyards – by 11%.

Currently, 20% of all irrigated agricultural lands are used for growing fruit and vegetables, the share of industry in total agricultural production is more than 41%, in exports of agricultural products - 43.4%.

Uzbekistan also created intensive gardens and vineyards. In last seven years, 36,800 new gardens and 35,300 vineyards were created and 57,800 hectares of gardens and 37,300 hectares of vineyards were reconstructed.

In last five years with use of foreign experience, Uzbekistan created over 23,500 hectares (9% from total area of gardens) of intensive gardens with use of drip irrigation and other innovations.

In 2009-2015, over 2,600 hectares of greenhouses were created and in the result, production of main fruitage rose by 1.6 times and 17.7 million tonnes of fruits and vegetables were produced in 2014, which makes up 509.7 kg and 578 kg per capita.

Uzbekistan also works on developing processing, storage and export of fruits and vegetables. In 2004-2014, some 130 enterprises on processing fruits, vegetables and grapes with the capacities of over 475,000 tonnes of raw materials a year were launched. They produce over 145 types of products.

In last ten years, processing of fruits, vegetables and grape rose 4.2 times – from 557,000 tonnes in 2014 to 2.32 million tonnes in 2014.

Exports of horticultural products in natural expression increased from 400,000 tonnes to 700,000 tonnes, while the volume of exports in money terms rose during this period by 18 times.

Uzbekistan implements a programme on strengthening and developing of base for storage of fruits and vegetables. In last five years, Uzbekistan launched 347 modern storage sites with the capacities of over 231,800 tonnes and modernized 80 existing cold storage cameras with the capacity of 49,800 tonnes.