Uzbekistan to adopt a program for development of viticulture and winemaking

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 3 August, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting to discuss development of wine industry, expand production and export of alcoholic beverages.

In accordance with the resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On measures for basic improvement of the wine industry and the sale of alcohol products” from 28 February 2018, the Uzsharobsanoat Joint Stock Company was organized. A number of tasks have been identified to expand the vineyards and develop winemaking.

In the first half of 2018, with the growth of industry of our country by 11 percent, the growth in the wine industry was only 0.9 percent. The level of capacity utilization for the production of vodka is 71 percent, wine - 57 percent, champagne - 7 percent. As a result, production forecasts for the first half of the year were not met.

In countries with a high level of development of this industry, the share of wine in the total volume of alcohol production is 75-80 percent. In Uzbekistan, winemaking is not given due attention, over the past 10 years, wine production has decreased by 2.5-3 times. Enterprises for the primary production of wine because of a lack of raw materials use only 15 percent of their capacity. Only 25 percent of enterprises that produce wine materials have been modernized.

In connection with this, special attention is paid to the development of winemaking, it is planned to increase the area of vineyards of wine varieties in the Uzsharobsanoat system to 20,000 hectares up to 2021.

The meeting discussed the implementation of these tasks, the organization of vineyards of wine varieties and modern nurseries, entering into the list of conditions for licensing vodka factories requirements for the creation of vineyards of a certain area and the production of finished wine products.

It is entrusted to develop a five-year program aimed at accelerating development of viticulture and processing grapes, modernizing existing and creating new facilities for production of alcoholic beverages.

The need for a critical review of the activities of agrofirms in the "Uzsharobsanoat" system, provision of undeveloped or inefficiently used land plots to private owners for the organization of wine grapes plantations by the cluster method was noted.

The task was set to create and multiply in the conditions of strict quarantine cuttings of such grape varieties, allowing to produce wine at the level of the requirements of the world market, such as Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc.

In many countries, wine is made not only from grapes, but also other fruits, produce vinegar and cider. Measures have been determined to study this experience, to organize and expand in the future the production of fruits.

Instructions are given to attract investment in winemaking and production of alcoholic beverages, a sharp increase in exports due to the modernization of capacities and the introduction of advanced technologies.

The meeting also focused on wide introduction of information technologies in the production and sale of alcohol products, creation of an electronic system that ensures the sale of the chain "producer - wholesaler - retailer - consumer", preventing imports into the country and illegal trade in low-quality alcoholic products.