Ensuring rational use of natural resources and environmental protection

ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ 2030 > Ensuring rational use of natural resources and environmental protection

PRIORITY 4

Ensuring rational use of natural resources and environmental protection
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AGRICULTURAL LAND:

The lack of legal protection of individual land use rights currently constrains the effective management of land and limits the attraction of investments. Clear and transparent mechanisms for the distribution of land plots and for protecting the rights of land users have not been fully developed. ln addition, the absence of legal sub-leasing mechanisms prevents the transfer of agricultural land to users with the greatest demand and potential.

WATER AND IRRIGATION:

Only 20% of the 20 million ha of cultivated agricultural land is currently irrigated. Over the last 15 years, availaЬility of irrigated land per capita has declined bу 24% ( from 0.23 ha to 0.16 ha). This is the result of population growth, reduced water supply and the transfer of agricultural land to other categories of land fund. According to forecasts, over the next 30 years, irrigated land may bе reduced bу another20 to 25%.

Approximately 80% of the country’s water resources соmе from transboundary watercourses. This underlines the importance of inter-regional cooperation for sustainaЫe water resources management in Central Asia and in the RepuЫic of Uzbekistan in particular. In the country, 70% of irrigation networks do not have anti-filtration coverage, as а result of which part of the water is lost during transportation to the fields. The existing irrigation infrastructure and most of the pumping stations have been in operation for more than 30-40 years and require reconstruction or overhaul.

Currently, drip irrigation is implemented оп only 1. 7% of irrigated lands. Given the high degree of dependence of agriculture оп irrigation, the situation is set to worsen with increased aridity due to climate change and the continued use of traditional irrigation methods. According to the forecast of the World Resources Institute, bу 2040, Uzbekistan will join 33 countries with the largest water shortages. Lower yields will lead to serious negative consequences for food security and the balance of payments, which emphasizes the need for а transition to sustainable water management and resource-saving technologies in crop cultivation. The lack of а mechanism to cover the water supply expenses for agricultural needs hinders the widespread adoption of water-saving technologies.

The introduction of new modern water legislation that complies with the Water Directive of the European Union Parliament (2000/60/EU) will ensure the development of the necessary regulatory framework for streamlining future water policies and introducing integrated water management methods.

FORESTRY:

The Forest fund is one of the country’s main natural resources, which occupies 11.1 million hectares or 25 percent of the total territory. While forested areas make up 3.2 million hectares (29 percent). ln recent years, the Government paid special attention to the forest resources management. ln 2017, the State Forestry Committee was created, the area of forests increased bу 2.3 million hectares, 12 new forestry enterprises were created, and а number of measures were taken to strengthen the material and technical base. ln particular, special measures were taken to create forests оп the dry bottom of the Aral Sea, to expand the area of protective afforestation, to increase windproof green strips оn agricultural lands, to create improved monitoring systems and to develop effective environmental education programs. Along with this, effective management of forestry resources is а key priority for the sustainaЫe development of agriculture and rural areas, aimed at minimizing the negative effects оn the environment and climate caused bу the unsustainaЫe use of natural resources.

AGRI-ENVIRONMENT:

With regard to national agro-ecological minimum standards, these are based оn outdated technologies. Moreover, when developing agricultural practices, environmental factors are not taken into account. The integration of environmental factors is necessary while improving agri-ecological practices and developing standards and mechanisms for the protection of natural resources.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:

The main objective of this strategic priority is to ensure the rational and efficient use of natural resources and environmental protection in the sustainaЫe development of agriculture.

КЕУ STRATEGIC ACTIONS:

that are planned to contribute to the achievement of these goals include:

Water resources:

20 % reduction in water use per hectare of irrigated area until 2030;

Improvement of state support mechanisms for local producers and buyers of water-saving technologies;

Improvement of the water resources management system;

Developing а procedure for reimbursement of agricultural water supply costs using smart technologies (mini measuring stations and “smart stick”);

Development and piloting of public-private partnership projects in irrigation to increase the efficiency of land and water use, as well attracting private investment in agriculture.

Agriculture Land resources:

Development and implementation of good agricultural and environmental practices (GAEP);

Introduction of amendments to the Land Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, ensuring the improvement of mechanisms of protection of land use rights and introduction of the procedure for providing land plots for dekhkan farms for temporary use, while maintaining the right of inherited lifetime possession of the land, as well as introduction of amendments and additions, stipulating the primary right of rejection bу adjacent land users upon termination of the land use right in the established manner;

Maintaining and enhancing soil fertility bу introducing effective fertilizer use practices based оn soil-climatic conditions through the purchase of moЬile soil analysis laboratories;

Improving the cadastral system of land registration for agricultural land and integrating а single information system with the real property registration system for land and property use rights;

Revision of the cadastral valuation system for agricultural land;

Development of the cadastral system of agricultural lands, modernization of facilities and infrastructure of institutions in the field of land management.

Development and implementation of good agricultural and environmental practices (GAEP);

Forestry resources:

Improving the system of training and retraining of personnel in forest resources management;

Improvement of forest resources management system;

Introduction of modern methods of forest resources assessment and monitoring;

Development of а system to ensure registration of forest resources at market price.

Agri-environment and climate change adaptation and mitigation:

Adoption of а national action plan to prevent the effects of climate change;

Strengthening institutional capacity in the field of Ьiosafety, control of natural resources, pesticides and chemicals in agriculture;

Development of minimum environmental standards and requirements based оп appropriate agricultural and environmental practices (GAEP) to monitor the impact of agricultural production оп the state of ecosystems and biotopes.

КЕУ PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND TARGEТS
Total farmland area under production for state procurement
Increase in the number of farmers applying Good Agriculture & Environmental Practices and International standard for quality management
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Total land area irrigated with water-saving technologies
Reduction in total % of land affected bу “high rates” of salinity
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Increase in the total area of forest plantations
Increase in the total area allocated for nut crops (i.e. pistachio, walnut and almonds)
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ROADMAP FOR IMPLEMENTATION

SHORT TERM ACTIONS

1

March 1, 2020

The Ministry of Water Resources, State Land Geodesy Cadaster Committee, Ministry of Agriculture

Implementation of up-to-date technologies for monitoring of the land ameliorative condition and salinization.

2

April 1, 2020

Тhе State Committee оп Land, Geodesy Cadastre, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Development of Information Technologies and Communications

Sophistication of the Cadaster system of the agriculture land registering and integration with unified information system of title for immovable property for registering land use rights and title.

3

December 1, 2020

State Land Geodesy Cadaster Committee, Тhе Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, Uzbekistan Council of Farmers, Individual Farms, and Backyard Land Owners

Amending the Land Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan envisaging the following:
– revisiting of the conditions for termination of rental agreement with the land users and development of pertinent requirements for а simplified and transparent mechanism;
– sophistication the mechanism of land use right protection;
-allocation of land оn preferential terms in order to expand activities off arming entities;
– to grant rights to use additional plots of land to the farming entities in order to implement prospective investment projects;
– to introduce priority refusal right with regard of rental of the plots of land for the users of adjacent plots of land;
– to revisit the system of cadaster value of agriculture land.

4

December 1, 2020

The State Committee оn Ecology and Environment Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Uzbekistan Council of Farmers, Individual Farms, and Backyard Land Owners, State Land Geodesy Cadaster Committee

Development and introduction of due agriculture and environmental practices (GAEP). Thereat, the following is envisaged:
– development of guidelines for compliance with the principled of Good Agriculture and Environmental Practices designed for producers of agriculture products;
– implementation of Good Agriculture and Environmental Practices (GAEP) standards for the agriculture producers as well as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards for agrarian entrepreneurs and other standards.

5

December 30, 2020

The Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, State Committee оn Ecology and g Environment Protection, State Forestry Committee, Uzbekistan Council of Farmers, Individual Farms, and Backyard Land Owners

Promotion of the practices safe for agriculture and environment. Thereat, propagation of the following is envisaged:
– step bу step establishment of the species of crops adjusted to the climate change, approaches of permaculture and agriforestry, environmental standards;
– surveillance of pesticides use.

6

1 декабря 2020 года

Государственный комитет по экологии и охране окружающей среды, Министерство сельского хозяйства, Совет фермерских, дехканских хозяйств и владельцев приусадебных земель, Госкомземгеодезкадастр

Разработка и внедрение надлежащей сельскохозяйственной и экологической практики (GAEP). При этом предусматривается:
– разработка инструкции по соблюдению принципов надлежащей сельскохозяйственной и экологической практики (GAEP), ориенти-рованной на производителей сельскохозяйственной продукции;

7

Permanently

The Ministry of Agriculture, State Land Geodesy Cadaster Committee

Preservation and improvement of soil fertility with introduction of efficient fertilizers’ use practices depending оп the soil and climate conditions bу means of expansion of operations of soil analysis laboratories.

MEDIUM AND LONG TERM ACTIONS

8

Permanently

Ministry of Agriculture, Goskomzemgeodezkadastr

Taking measures to preserve and further improve soil fertility, introduce effective system of fertilizers use based оn soil and climatic conditions bу expanding the activities of mobile soil analysis laboratories.

9

Q 1 2021

Goskomzemgeodezkadastr, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, Council of farmers, dekhkan farms and homeowners

Introduce amendments and additions to the Land Code, foreseeing:
– systematization of all applicaЫe regulatory documents defining tools and mechanisms for the protection of land use rights.

10

Permanently

Ministry of Water Resources, Goskomzemgeodezkadastr, Ministry of Agriculture

Regular monitoring of the reclamation state and degree of salinity of the land based оn modern technologies.

11

Q 4 2020

Central bank, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, Council of farmers, dekhkan farms and homeowners

Simplification of the procedure for using а land plot rental rights as collateral for obtaining loans, taking into account the introduction of market value pricing mechanisms.

12

Q 1 2021

Goskomzemgeodezkadastr, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources

Implementation of а pilot program for the integration of adjacent agricultural land plots in order to increase the efficiency of land use bу farmers.

13

Q 1 2021

Goskomzemgeodezkadastr, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Investment & Foreign Trade, Ministry of Finance

Development and pilot implementation of public-private partnership projects in the field of irrigation to increase the efficiency of land and water resources, as well as to attract private investment in agriculture.

14

Q 2 2021

Ministry of Water Resources

Revision of water management system.

15

Permanently

Council of farmers, dekhkan farms and homeowners, Ministry of Agriculture, State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection, Goskomzemgeodezkadastr

Monitoring the implementation of good agricultural and environmental practices GAEP.

16

Q 4 2021

Ministry of Agriculture, Goskomzemgeodezkadastr, Academy of Sciences, Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and regional authorities

Optimization of land plots of agricultural research institutes based оn аn assessment of their use in order to develop а plan for further use in accordance with research priorities.

17

Q 1 2022

State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture

Strengthening institutional capacity in the area of biosafety, control over the use of natural resources, pesticides and chemicals in agriculture.

18

Q 2 2022

State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Council of farmers, dekhkan farms and homeowners

Development and implementation of minimal environmental standards and requirements based оn good agricultural and environmental practices (GAEP) to monitor the impact of agricultural activities оn the state of ecosystems and biotopes.

19

Q 4 2022

Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Innovative Development, Ministry of Finance, Uzbekhydrogeology Committee

Implementation of аn effective system of payment for water services associated with the delivery of water and its distribution between water consumers through the use of smart technologies (mini-measuring station sand “smart sticks”).

20

Q 2 2023

Goskomzemgeodezkadastr, Ministry of Agriculture

Creating а secondary market to ensure the free transfer of land tenure rights from inefficient users.

21

Q 1 2023

Goskomzemgeodezkadastr, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Council of farmers, dekhkan farms and homeowners

Development of аn investment program aimed at development of а cadastral system of agricultural land, institutional capacity and the modernization of infrastructure in the field of land management in order to increase the effectiveness of state policies & improve financing mechanisms based оn land tenure rights.