Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Rolling vineyards and landscaped orchards in the hills of France and Italy have long symbolized agritourism, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Now, a similar destination has been established in Shakhrisabz, located in Uzbekistan’s Kashkadarya region.

During his working visit to the region, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev toured a newly developed agritourism complex, established on what was once arid, uncultivated hillside. Through the implementation of a modern drip irrigation system, the once-barren landscape has been transformed into a green and productive area.

The new complex spans 520 hectares and features terraced vineyards, cherry and apple orchards, and forest plantations. All saplings were sourced from France and belong to high-yield, disease-resistant varieties.

“Those who once doubted that hilly and steppe land could be cultivated should look at this orchard,” said President Mirziyoyev.

The project is expected to yield 7,500 tonnes of agricultural produce annually, with an export potential estimated at US$5 million. It has already created 100 permanent jobs and over 1,000 seasonal positions. A French agronomist oversees the orchards and trains local youth in modern farming techniques and export-oriented practices.

To attract tourists and boost the local economy, the complex includes a restaurant with 120 seats and a hotel accommodating up to 100 guests. Construction is ongoing for an agro-logistics center, a training facility, and processing and storage units for agricultural products.

Plans were also presented to the President for replicating similar agritourism complexes in other mountainous areas of the country. In response, the head of state instructed officials to organize irrigation systems in new zones and allocate land to the population for the development of orchards.

These measures aim to create additional sources of income for rural residents and accelerate the growth of the agricultural sector in remote and hard-to-reach regions.