Uzbekistan to give 627,000 hectares of pastures to mahallas free for 49 years

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on preventing pasture degradation, improving water supply and using pastures efficiently. Uzbekistan has 21.255 million hectares of pastures, but only 40% are used effectively.

By the end of the year, 470 mahallas will receive 627,000 hectares of pasture for free lease for 49 years, and these lands will be exempt from taxes. Public pastures will also be created for residents of remote districts who keep livestock. Hokims were instructed to approve comprehensive programs within a month to cut degraded land by 10% this year and 20% next year.

Lease payments will stay with territorial pasture management enterprises and will fund 448 new wells and the repair of 1,600 wells by year-end. Plans also target restoring 620,000 hectares this year and 3.7 million hectares in 2027.