Tashkent, Uzbekistan, June 6
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
Uzbekistan produces nearly 16 million tonnes of fruit and vegetable products and over 7.8 million tonnes of cereals per year, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said on June 6.
He made the remarks while speaking at the International Conference on the most important reserves of implementing the Food Program in Uzbekistan.
"As a result of the cardinal reforms carried out in the years of independence, the cereal production has increased from 900,000 tonnes to 7.8 million tonnes in last 22 years, thus turning the country into a grain exporter. We imported around five million tonnes of wheat before," Karimov said.
The president also stated that despite the population growth by 10 million people, the volume of agricultural production has more than doubled in the period of the country's independence.
Meat consumption per capita has increased by 1.3 times, milk and milk products - 1.6 times, potato - 1.7 times, fruit - almost four times and vegetable consumption has more than doubled.
The country produces nearly 300 kilograms of vegetables, 75 kilograms of potato, 44 kilograms of grapes per capita, which exceeds the optimal consumption rates by nearly three times.
The Conference on the most important reserves of implementing the Food Program in Uzbekistan has been organized to discuss and work out proposals on the full use of reserves and the opportunities of meeting the growing demand of the world food market.
The conference has been attended by over 200 representatives from 40 countries, as well as a number of international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas and the international financial institutions such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation.
Edited by CN