Uzbekistan is stepping up efforts to integrate space technology and digital tools into agriculture as part of a wider push to boost productivity, address climate challenges, and strengthen food security. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a high-level meeting on July 31 to outline next steps in digitizing the sector using satellite data and remote sensing tools.
The meeting followed a videoconference held a day earlier, where the president emphasized the need to increase the production of fruits, vegetables, and food crops by making more efficient use of land.
The Uzbekkosmos Agency (Uzspace) established by a presidential initiative, is providing satellite data for various sectors, including agriculture.
According to the Presidential Decree from October 14, 2024, aerospace technologies are being introduced across economic sectors. Over the past two years, more than 4mn hectares of farmland have been monitored via satellite. The analysis revealed discrepancies between official planting reports and actual conditions, including unplanted fields and crops grown on lands of unclear legal status.
To address this, a new system will be introduced to remotely monitor how state-issued preferential loans are used, especially those aimed at agriculture.
Water Management Reform
With climate change and increasing water scarcity, Uzbekistan is transitioning to water-efficient crop varieties and irrigation methods. However, current water usage norms and hydromodule zoning practices have fallen behind reality. As a result, over 3,000 farmers at the tail ends of irrigation canals struggle to access water.
The president directed authorities to fully revise water use standards and zoning methods, calling on research institutions to help develop modern, data-driven solutions.
There is still no accurate, digitized accounting system for on-farm water consumption. Going forward, Uzbekistan will implement contour-level digital tracking and install “smart” meters at all reservoirs. In the past two years, 60 reservoirs have undergone their first bathymetric surveys, revealing capacity losses due to sediment buildup.
Digital Agriculture Platform
Digitization of agriculture was another key focus. Farmers currently rely on over 30 separate platforms for managing land use, credit, subsidies, and agri-services. A new unified system, “Digital Agriculture,” will be launched to simplify and integrate these services.
Farmers will be able to declare what they plan to grow directly through the platform, allowing authorities to track primary and secondary crops in real time. This is expected to help with food security planning, price stability, and income forecasting.
Boosting Innovation and Sustainability
To modernize farming practices, Uzbekistan will import over 100 advanced drones this fall, with plans to engage private service providers to support farmers. Authorities are also preparing legislation to end stubble burning, a practice that harms soil and air quality.
Additionally, the president called for ministers and regional governors to study the wider potential of space research in fields like construction, land cadastre, mining, and pasture management.
A dedicated commission led by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov will be created to ensure food security. The government will allocate preferential loans and subsidies to encourage the production of essential and scarce food products.
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