Reforms aimed at increasing the effectiveness and developing market mechanisms in the agro-industrial sector of our country are actively implemented. Advanced agro-technologies and scientific achievements are widely introduced in the sector. 

Recently a group of specialists visited China, Italy and Japan to study the experience of scientific institutions, large companies and enterprises. As a result new cooperation plans were developed. 

As is known, the key factor of high yield is seed production. The Chinese Academy of  Agricultural Sciences has rich experience in seed production and nursery farming. In Uzbekistan, there are 14 scientific institutes and 55 seed farms, but significant gaps remain in the development of new varieties and introduction of agro-technologies. Due to the low efficiency of local seeds, farmers prefer to use foreign varieties.

In this regard, a seed and nursery system based on Chinese experience is planned to be established at the Agro-Service Center in Yukorichirchik district. This will attract $200 million of investment, and the creation of varieties of cotton wheat, rice, corn, grapes and fruit crops will be established. A model area will be created with a full cycle of cultivation - from receiving seedlings to their planting, plant protection, harvesting and further processing with the use of modern machinery and drones.

One of the pressing issues for the sphere of agriculture remains the training of qualified personnel. Italy's experience in this area is noteworthy. In particular, the University of Bologna occupies an important place in providing personnel for European countries. Scientific institutions in Italy actively cooperate with the private sector, create on demand and commercialize quality crop varieties.

In order to study this experience, 200 young people are planned to be sent to the universities of Bologna, Tuscia, Ferrara and Pisa this year. The University of Tuscia offered to train 30 food technologists annually on the basis of grants and assist in organizing personnel training in Uzbekistan.

The programs of combining study and work are well established in the world. For example, last year the Samarkand Agrarian Institute and the International University of Agriculture sent a group of students to Germany and the United Kingdom for internships. The Tashkent State Agrarian and International Agricultural Universities and the Fergana Institute of Food Industry are creating Japanese language centers to send students to Japan.

Supporting the presented plans, the Head of State emphasized the need to expand cooperation with Hungary, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and South Korea - countries with a developed agro-industrial sector. The Ministry of Agriculture has been instructed to develop a program to increase the number of innovative projects in the regions.