Agriculture and rural development reforms

In order to enhance agricultural productivity and competitiveness, the government of Uzbekistan has adopted a number of deep policy reforms since 2017. These are ambitious and unprecedented in the country’s history. In line with its Agri-Food Development Strategy, the government eliminated state output targets for cotton and wheat as well as the systematic use of forced labour in cotton picking. Moreover, it eliminated foreign exchange controls and liberalised the export of horticultural crops. Based on secondary data, expert interviews, and policy reports, we provide an analysis of recent agricultural and rural reforms in Uzbekistan. We examine recent cotton and wheat sector liberalisation and highlight persisting challenges in horticulture and livestock production. The first years of the new wave of agricultural reforms revealed additional challenges threatening the sector’s long-term sustainable and inclusive growth. Land tenure security and the autonomy of decision-making on farms remain open issues. The state policies tend to overlook the importance of smallholders and focus mostly on large commercial farms and enterprises. Reform success will depend on corresponding changes in the institutional environment. We conclude with a discussion of policy options that facilitate the viability and inclusiveness of agricultural and rural reforms in Uzbekistan.

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