SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF UZBEKISTAN’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR: PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY, WATER RESOURCES, AND EXPORT DIVERSIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract

Abstract: Agriculture plays a strategic role in Uzbekistan’s economy by contributing to food security, rural livelihoods, industrial development, and export earnings. However, the long-term sustainability of the sector depends not only on increasing agricultural output but also on improving production efficiency, managing increasingly scarce water resources, and diversifying export markets and products. This article examines the development of Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector through three interconnected dimensions: production performance, water-resource management, and agricultural export diversification. The analysis draws on official statistics published by the National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan, national agricultural policy documents, and reports by the World Bank. Official data indicate that the nominal value of agricultural production increased from approximately UZS 250.3 trillion in 2020 to UZS 439.9 trillion in 2024, while real agricultural production grew by 3.1% in 2024. In addition, Uzbekistan exported 2.2 million tonnes of fruit and vegetable products worth approximately USD 2.1 billion in 2025. Nevertheless, water scarcity, outdated irrigation infrastructure, limited value addition, and concentration in established export markets remain important policy concerns. The article argues that sustainable agricultural development requires an integrated approach combining water-efficient technologies, productivity-oriented investment, improved post-harvest infrastructure, and evidence-based export diversification. The analysis is descriptive and policy-oriented; it does not claim to establish causal relationships between these factors.