"AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION FOR FOOD SECURITY IN UZBEKISTAN: DIVERSIFICATION, LAND USE AND POLICY MEASURES"

Abstract

This paper examines the transformation of Uzbekistan’s agriculture and its contribution to food security through the prism of diversification, land use changes, and key policy interventions. Drawing on secondary sources such as official statistics, policy documents, and published studies, the paper summarizes crop and livestock trends, presents regional crop production patterns, and analyzes the distribution of agricultural land over the period 2014–2023. Evidence suggests that cotton acreage has been gradually declining, while the share of cereals and high-value crops has increased; while livestock remains an important source of production, it faces challenges in terms of feed and productivity. The paper draws together government interventions such as land and tenancy reforms, irrigation modernization, subsidies and concessional financing, digital platforms, and AKIS. The bottom line is that to sustain gains in food security, it is necessary to scale up climate-smart water management, strengthen value chains, and improve farmers' access to technology, advisory services, and markets.