Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has commissioned a smart nursery complex in Pskent district of Tashkent region as part of a US$7.7 million project supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to expand green spaces, improve seedling production and introduce advanced forestry technologies.
The complex was established under the project "Greening Forest and Urban Areas of Tashkent Region Using Smart Technologies", implemented jointly by the Forestry Agency under Uzbekistan's Ecology Committee and KOICA's representative office in Uzbekistan.
The project covers the period from 2024 to 2028 and aims to strengthen the country's capacity to produce high-quality planting material adapted to local climatic conditions.
The new facility is located at the Dungqurgon site of the Tashkent State Forestry Enterprise, which specialises in growing planting material.
Covering seven hectares, the complex includes 14 smart greenhouses equipped with automated systems that continuously monitor environmental conditions inside the facilities.
These technologies are designed to maintain optimal growing conditions and improve the quality and efficiency of seedling production.
The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Director of the Forestry Agency Golibjon Kurbonov, South Korean Ambassador to Uzbekistan Won Do Yeon, and Abdushukur Hamzayev, head of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan's faction in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.
Representatives of the Ecology Committee, Forestry Agency, Pskent district administration, KOICA experts, regional forestry enterprise managers and journalists also participated.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kurbonov highlighted Uzbekistan's ongoing efforts to establish new forests and expand green areas under initiatives promoted by the country's leadership.
He noted that a modern planting material production centre had recently begun operating in Guzar district of Kashkadarya region, with the capacity to produce millions of high-quality seedlings annually.
A separate smart nursery complex covering 5.5 hectares was also established in Andijan region earlier this year.
According to Kurbonov, these facilities are intended to support the next stage of Uzbekistan's nationwide Yashil Makon, or Green Space, initiative.
"The smart nurseries being commissioned today in Pskent district of Tashkent region are a logical continuation of these initiatives," he said.
"On behalf of the Forestry Agency, we express our sincere gratitude to the government of the Republic of Korea, KOICA and all partners who contributed to the implementation of the project and directly supported the establishment of this modern complex."
During the ceremony, participants unveiled a commemorative stone marking the establishment of the facility and planted trees on its grounds.
Guests subsequently toured the nurseries and examined their infrastructure and operating systems.
The project includes training seminars on producing seedlings suited to local climatic conditions, grafting techniques and the introduction of modern agricultural technologies.
It is also expected to improve the use of existing forestry infrastructure, create jobs and expand opportunities to propagate different species of trees and shrubs.
The complex will support the production of large quantities of planting material for forestry enterprises, the establishment of new green areas and the restoration of degraded forests.
Its capabilities are also intended to contribute to the creation of new forests and efforts to prevent desertification in arid regions.
According to South Korean specialists, one of the principal advantages of the smart greenhouses is their ability to significantly reduce water consumption through advanced equipment.
Unlike conventional cultivation methods, seedlings are grown in specialised containers rather than directly in the soil.
This approach generally allows planting material to become ready for transplantation within approximately one year.
Automated management systems also reduce the need for manual labour, with operations controlled through specialised software to support consistent seedling development.
Container-grown seedlings are easier to transport and plant in mountainous areas, helping reduce associated costs.
The Forestry Agency reported that during the first nine months of 2026, forestry enterprises under its administration collected 1,100 tonnes of tree and shrub seeds for forestry and greening purposes.
Over the same period, 101.6 million seedlings and young trees adapted to local soil and climatic conditions were being cultivated and maintained across 1,035 hectares.
The technologies introduced at the Pskent complex are designed to promote efficient water use, enable controlled cultivation and improve the quality of planting material.
Uzbekistan plans to extend the experience gained from the facility to other forestry enterprises across the country.
