The growth of gross agricultural product against last year’s figure made up 105.5%, according to the Uzbek State Statistics Committee.

This was largely due to increased volumes of production of dairy products (106.8%), meat (106.2%), eggs (112%), wool (112.1%), astrakhan fur (111.1%), and vegetables (142.2%).

Over 25,200 farms were established on the basis of the reorganized 329 shirkats (collective farms). The newly established farms work some 604,200 hectares of land. The total number of farms in Uzbekistan reached 207,900 as of 1 April 2007. The process of reorganization of shirkats into farms is nearly completed. Only around 120 shirkats have left in Uzbekistan. These mainly specialize in the production of astrakhan fur and livestock breeding.

For the purpose of creating favourable conditions for the operation of farms, 83 additional points supplying lubricants, 94 points supplying mineral fertilizers, 295 alternative tractor fleets, 66 mini-banks and 223 water-users’ associations were created.

Work is continued in the framework of the programme on stimulating the breeding of cattle on private yards and farms. In the first quarter of 2007, the total of 4,625 cattle heads were sold at 166 auction points across the country (107.4% of the forecast for the quarter). The increase in the cattle heads in the reporting quarter made up 529,300, and their total number reached 2,004,800.

In the reporting period shirkats and farms received over 7.7 billion soums in preferential loans (141.6% of the task for the quarter).