New digital system to transform farming in Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Uzbekistan is set to overhaul its agricultural sector with a new digital platform that merges satellite data, drone technology, and smart irrigation tools—part of a wider push to modernize farming and address deep-rooted challenges in land and water management.

According to UZ Daily, the government announced the creation of a unified “Digital Agriculture” system that will integrate over 30 existing services to support farmers with crop planning, yield forecasting, and real-time field monitoring. 

The platform aims to improve food security, stabilize prices, and offer farmers greater autonomy over decision-making.

The move comes as Uzbekistan increasingly turns to space and digital technologies to resolve long-standing inefficiencies in its agriculture sector. Over the past two years, satellite imagery has exposed discrepancies in land use reporting, including undeclared cotton cultivation and unauthorized farming on reserve lands. 

In response, authorities plan to implement remote monitoring systems to ensure state loans allocated for farming are used as intended.

Water scarcity remains a critical issue. Officials admit that outdated irrigation methods and zoning systems have left thousands of farmers—particularly those downstream—struggling with shortages. 

As part of the reform package, the government will digitize water usage data, install “smart” meters on all major reservoirs, and initiate desilting operations following new bathymetric analyses that revealed significant loss of storage capacity due to sediment buildup.

In a bid to accelerate change, more than 100 advanced agricultural drones will be deployed this fall to assist with spraying, mapping, and other precision tasks. The private sector is expected to play a key role in delivering drone-related services directly to farmers.

Officials also raised environmental concerns, including the widespread practice of burning crop residue. A legal ban on straw burning is now under consideration, alongside broader efforts to enhance soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

While many of the reforms are still at an early stage, the creation of a central food security commission—chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov—signals a coordinated push to implement the changes. 

Proponents argue that digitizing land and water systems is not only about efficiency, but also about building resilience in the face of climate stress and global supply chain disruptions.

The initiative reflects a growing recognition that sustainable agriculture depends on transparent data, adaptive planning, and technological access—not just for large agribusinesses, but for farmers at every level.