Food security and household plots development issues discussed

On April 8, 2020, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconference on the analysis of the effectiveness of activities carried out on combating the coronavirus pandemic, development of household plots, which is an important factor in ensuring food security, employment and incomes of the population.

As is known, the Head of the state adopted a number of important decisions aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus, minimizing its negative impact on the life of the population and the country’s economy. In particular, a Special Republican Commission has been formed, full-scale work has been launched to stabilize the epidemiological situation, protect public health, introduce a quarantine regime.

Special attention is paid to increasing the degree of medical institutions’ preparedness and construction of additional facilities. In particular, a special hospital with 10 thousand beds is being built in Zangiata district at an accelerated pace. A quarantine zone for 10 thousand people has started its activities in Yuqorichirchiq district, construction of another quarantine base for 10 thousand beds has begun, which will be put into operation by May 15.

At the meeting, it was noted that over the past month, 6 thousand citizens were returned to the country by 20 charter flights, another 10 thousand returned by rail and through border posts. All of them are quarantined and placed in 160 objects.

Operational headquarters has been established. It consists of experienced doctors and professors who conduct round-the-clock online counseling for treating patients. Virologists from China and South Korea are invited. Using telemedicine technologies, interaction is carried out with specialists from Russia, Germany, Japan, Turkey and other countries.

“The most important thing is that the vast majority of our people soberly assess the situation, work remotely, strictly follow the recommendations of doctors and the quarantine requirements, set an example for everyone with their culture, consciousness and discipline. Our schoolchildren and students continue to receive online courses”, the Head of the state said.

The system of uninterrupted supply of food products, medicines and medical devices has been effectively established. Free sponsorship provided by our generous compatriots is targeted and timely delivered to socially vulnerable segments of the population.

As President noted, the readiness of our people to fight this threat shoulder to shoulder is clearly evidenced by the fact that over a short period of time, citizens, state and NGOs transferred more than 50 billion UZS to the Charity and Health Foundation of Uzbekistan.

“In this difficult time, our multinational people do not succumb to panic, but, on the contrary, again show iron will, mutual respect and solidarity with confidence that this disaster that has come from outside will soon pass and better days will come”, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Farmers in the regions, cherishing every day of spring, began agricultural activities.

Production at strategic industrial enterprises, important construction facilities is organized in strict accordance with the quarantine rules.

“In a word, life in Uzbekistan continues. Most importantly, dedicated service of many thousands of our compatriots, especially doctors, their dedication to work, as well as promptly taken measures, are giving their positive results”, the President said.

Unfortunately, a 40-year-old patient died yesterday, who, despite unprecedented explanatory work, treated himself at home and was hospitalized already in serious condition.

Expressing condolences to the family of the deceased, the Head of the state again called on everyone to be careful: “If you feel the symptoms of the disease, immediately consult a doctor. I repeat, first of all, our own safety depends on us, saving our family and relatives from the disease!”

There are cases of violation of quarantine and sanitary-hygienic rules.

For example, over the past time, about 47 thousand cases of violation of the quarantine rules were recorded, including 34 thousand cases of movement without masks, 11 thousand cases of violation of restrictions on vehicles movement, those responsible were fined. Moreover, 24 cases of conducting family events involving hundreds of people were identified.

“We will get through these hard times, that the whole world is undergoing, even stronger, even more united, with the help of the Almighty. We will win if we strictly adhere to order and discipline, do not succumb to panic, do not lose our spirit.

We will certainly overcome these temporary difficulties and problems. Our conscientious, pious and persistent people will have many better days, we will celebrate many more holidays together, we will certainly achieve our goals”, said President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The coronavirus pandemic has clearly shown the food insecurity policies and measures in countries around the world.

The Head of the state noted that Uzbekistan has large reserves and opportunities to fully satisfy domestic demand for food, increase incomes and welfare of the population.

To do this, with the observance of quarantine measures, it is necessary to continue planting spring crops: for farmers, clusters and dehkans – in the fields, and for the population – in their household plots. Otherwise, and it is quite natural, it will be difficult to maintain stable prices in the domestic market.

For this reason, in recent years, a number of documents have been adopted on the effective use of household plots by the population, amendments have been introduced to some laws. A separate position of deputy for household plots has been introduced at the Ministry for Supporting Makhalla and Family, its territorial units and citizens’ assemblies of makhallas.

The Council of Farmers, Dehkan Farms and Owners of Household Lands of Uzbekistan and its regional branches were organized. Activity of 244 “Tomorqa khizmati” enterprises was established to deliver seeds and seedlings to the population, provide relevant services. 350 billion UZS were allocated from the state budget for the implementation of new projects on household lands, a special foundation was created under the Council of Farmers.

In general, a new system has been created to provide the population with material and financial resources.

At the meeting, additional tasks were set for the effective use of this system, increasing the productivity of household plots.

Necessity of wide dissemination of the experience of owners of such lands that receive a high yield and income was indicated. For example, many garden owners in Asaka, Altinkul, Namangan, Uychi, Angar, Jarkurgan, Kitab, Taylak, Samarkand, Yangiyul, Zangiata, Altiarik, Kuva and other districts receive 2-3 harvest a year from their plot, one family earns 50-60 million UZS and some up to 100 million UZS from 8-10 acres of land.

However, such indicators are not observed everywhere. Planting activity in household lands in Samarkand, Kashkadarya, Khorezm, Bukhara, Syrdarya and Jizzakh regions remains incomplete.

Responsible persons were instructed to interact with the owners of these lands and organize planting of crops demanded by the market on household plots.

The President noted that, taking into account the difficult situation this year, double or triple cropping and receiving additional crop in all household plots should be a priority.

Creation of compact greenhouses is also important. Currently, there are such structures of light construction with a total area of 4 thousand hectares on the plots, 3 crops per year can be grown there.

It was noted that this issue is not given sufficient attention in many districts. The need was emphasized for creation of greenhouses with an area of 1-1.5 acres in at least 100 houses in the territory of each sector within the framework of “Every family entrepreneur” program.

Household plots need water. Last year, 233 wells were built at places and water supply for more than 4.5 thousand households were improved.

Water supply is difficult in most villages of Jandar, Shofirkan, Bakhmal, Farish, Guzar, Chirakchi, Nurata, Kushrabat, Urgut, Havast, Bekabad, Yazyavan, Kushkupir and other districts.

In this regard, the Council of Farmers, Dehkan Farms and Owners of Household Lands was tasked to build artesian wells in makhallas with difficult access to water and increase productivity, together with khokims.

Good results are obtained by introducing temporarily unused agricultural land into circulation and employ low-income families. 31 cooperatives were formed in Andijan, Namangan and Fergana regions, 1.6 thousand unemployed citizens were employed. In order to financially support the activities of cooperatives, 50 billion UZS were allocated from the foundation of the Council of Farmers, Dehkan Farms and Owners of Household Lands.

At the meeting, instructions were given to introduce this experience in other regions and to reduce poverty and unemployment.

24 billion UZS in the form of subsidies to cover the costs associated with procurement of products will be allocated for unemployed, who joined the cooperative, from the fund of the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations. Low-income and having no breadwinner families will be delivered seedlings of fruit trees, seeds of vegetables and other material resources.

Attention was paid to the issue of supplying home-grown products to domestic and foreign markets.

In this difficult time, leaving household land idle and not cultivating anything on them should be assessed as abuse.

It was emphasized that owners of household lands who use them inefficiently will receive an official warning, and those who will not grow crops after the warning will receive an increased land tax rate. Responsible officials were instructed to adopt a relevant document. Instructions were given on monitoring the status of household land using drones and implementation of necessary measures for the efficient use of land plots in the context of each sector.

Responsible leaders and khokims provided information on the issues discussed at the videoconference.

UzA