Uzbekistan to channel $50mn for establishment of walnut plantations

President Shavkat Mirziyoev signed a Decree "On creation and organisation of activities of the Association of producers and exporters of walnuts".

The document was adopted in order to further encourage efficient use of rainfed land, increasing the volume of production of walnuts, creation of modern plantations and active implementation of strong practices and intensive technologies for growing walnuts, based on the broad attraction of foreign investments.

The Decree of the head of state has established the Association of producers and exporters of walnuts.

The founders of the Association are LLC "Sam antep gilam" and "Sag agro", LLC "Research centre for nuts production", LLC "Walnut logistics centre", LLC "MTP Sag agro", as well as the territorial LLC "Yong'okargo".

The working group established for the implementation of the project is given three months to develop and submit for approval a draft Program of measures to further increase the production of walnut for the period 2017-2020 years.

The document also mandated the selection of land plots with a total area of 10 thousand hectares, favourable for planting walnut in natural-climatic conditions and soil composition.

The Ministry of agriculture and water resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly with the Agency for restructuring agricultural enterprises, National Bank for foreign economic activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a two month term should identify the sources of phased financing, including by attracting concessional loans from international financial institutions, and to ensure the allocation of credit in the amount of $50mn for financing projects on establishing walnut plantations.