Uzbekistan plans to change its approach to agricultural subsidies and insurance. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals to link state support to specific results, expand insurance coverage and further digitize the sector, the Uzbek presidential press service said.
In 2026, the number of agricultural subsidy areas reached 29, while the number of subsidy types stood at 91. A total of 2.7 trillion soums has been allocated to finance them. Some applications are already being generated proactively, while the time required to provide payments has been reduced.
The proposals call for gradually moving away from the model of simply allocating funds and introducing a system of “result-based subsidies” from 2027. Under this approach, the amount and provision of support would be linked to crop yields, water and energy savings, and the volume of output per unit of resources used.
Information for assessing results is planned to be obtained automatically from government information systems. An electronic profile will be created for each subsidy recipient, while the use of funds will be monitored online.
The first area for testing the new model will be the introduction of water-saving technologies. Over two to three years after a subsidy is received, water consumption, crop yields and the efficiency of water use will be assessed. If established indicators are not met, the funds provided would have to be returned.
Separate proposals concern the development of agricultural insurance. A significant portion of procedures has already been digitized through the Agrosafe system, from submitting applications and concluding contracts to monitoring, assessment and payment of insurance compensation.
The list of insurable assets and risks is also planned to be expanded. The system is proposed to include seedlings and trees in orchards and vineyards, imported livestock, as well as risks associated with accidental incidents. New insurance products are also planned for livestock farming and the cultivation of melons and gourds, potatoes and onions.
For 2027, the authorities have set a target of providing insurance coverage to 45,000 agricultural enterprises and increasing the share of insured agricultural products to 60%. The authorities also plan to train 500 independent experts and fully digitize insurance services.
The new system is intended to place greater emphasis on preventing damage rather than only compensating for losses that have already occurred. To this end, the proposals call for allocating 3-5% of insurance premiums to a special fund. The funds would be used for vaccination, preventive and veterinary measures in livestock farming, biological protection of cotton and grain crops, and the installation of protection systems against natural disasters in orchards and vineyards.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed the need to make procedures for obtaining subsidies and insurance services simpler and more convenient for farmers. Particular attention was also given to reducing human involvement, ensuring transparency, objectively assessing insurance claims and making compensation payments on time.
The responsible agencies were instructed to refine the proposals and prepare draft regulatory and legal acts.
Source - https://www.uzdaily.uz
