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By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan intends to reduce the area of rice fields from 162,000 to 94,000 hectares due to water shortage.

This became known following the results of a video-conference chaired by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held in the capital on May 29.

The meeting stressed that this year there were relatively few precipitations in the country, and that caused a shortage of water in most regions, which requires its more rational use.

“In this regard, there was a need to reduce rice fields from 162,000 to 94,000 hectares, provide farmers of the Khorezm region with 7,500 hectares of land in the Syrdarya region, which has no problems in water supply, and farmers of Karakalpakstan with 5,500 hectares of land in Djizak region - for the cultivation of rice as a re-culture,” the presidential press service said.

Besides, in Kashkadarya, Samarkand, Bukhara, Navoi regions and Karakalpakstan, where water shortages are expected, the areas for repeated crops will be reduced by 30,000, 42,000, 20,000, 14,000 and 10,000 hectares, respectively, Sputnik reported.

It is necessary to pay attention to the cultivation of mush, beans and other undemanding to water crops in these regions, including forage crops with their placement near water sources, according to the Uzbek president. Heads of relevant ministries and departments are given specific instructions for the timely and effective organization of these works.

In the first four weeks of May prices for rice in Uzbekistan rose sharply. According to the Central Bank, the cost of this crop has increased by 16.7 percent. The main reasons for the increase in prices, according to the regulator, were the expected dry year, a deficit of irrigation water in comparison with previous years, a possible reduction in crop areas, as well as deferring the supply of rice from the side of the harvesters.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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