Uzbekistan President commends NPPO progress to boost better plant protection

Tashkent, 26 March 2024. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan praised the Agency for Quarantine and Plant Protection in a recent visit to witness the progress made towards enhancing the country’s national phytosanitary system. President Mirziyoyev noted the important reforms carried out to safeguard Uzbekistan’s plant health and boost its agricultural sector. Uzbekistan became a contracting party to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in 2020, following improvements in plant quarantine, plant protection and agrochemicals to align with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs).

The agency, Uzbekistan’s national plant protection organization (NPPO), has made significant strides by adopting tools and innovation developed and promoted by the IPPC and world-class experts. It conducted phytosanitary capacity evaluation (PCE), a tool that aids contracting parties to assess their national phytosanitary systems. The Uzbekistan NPPO has conducted PCE twice, in 2018-2019 and in 2022-2023. In addition, it has harmonized its national phytosanitary standards with ISPMs to meet global benchmarks. The NPPO has further adopted the IPPC ePhyto Solution which has allowed them to exchange digital phytosanitary certificates with importing countries.

By investing USD 20 million in modernizing laboratories and equipment, NPPO specialists are now able to conduct timely phytosanitary analysis, including soil, paving the way for precision agriculture in using mineral fertilizers. These standards have been integrated into the country’s uzagrolab.uz program, empowering farmers to enhance the accuracy of their agricultural practices.

The Uzbekistan NPPO introduced seven new information systems and digitized 40 areas to modernize the country’s plant health systems. It developed the Agrokumakchi mobile app which provides users with information on plant protection services and consultations on the export of plant products.

Uzbekistan has been at the forefront of gathering phytosanitary experts by organizing and hosting the Regional Conference on Electronic Phytosanitary Certificates (ePhyto) and the 62nd Meeting of the Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations held in Tashkent in 2023.

It plans to further roll out phytosanitary reforms such as increasing the availability of mobile laboratories in regions, and bringing thousands of gardens, vineyards, fields and packaging enterprises into compliance with international phytosanitary requirements. Also in the plan is to digitize all processes related to pesticide handling to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Related information:

IPPC Secretary Osama El-Lissy visits Uzbekistan Plant Quarantine and Protection Agency