Surkhandarya region intends to reduce over 67,000 hectares of sown areas of cotton by the end of 2019.
The resolution is aimed at the optimization of agricultural crops, taking into account soil and climatic conditions of the region, efficient use of land and water resources, and strengthening of economic and financial sustainability of farms.
The lands released from cotton will be sown with vegetables on 39,100 hectares, potatoes on 5,200 hectares, intensive gardens on 9.7 hectares, fodder on 5,200, oil-bearing plants on 4,900 hectares, and other crops on 2,800 hectares.
As estimated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources Management, these measures should decrease the gross cotton harvesting by 64,800 tons in 2019, and concurrently increase the volume of production of other crops.
In addition, it is planned to replace old and inefficient orchards and vineyards with new plantations on a total area of 8,770 hectares next year, in order to increase volumes of fruit and vegetable production.
