Uzbekistan Bets on Space and Digital Agriculture to Tackle Climate and Water Challenges
As the global community confronts intensifying climate pressures and water scarcity, Uzbekistan is turning to cutting-edge space technologies and digital tools to future-proof its agricultural sector — a cornerstone of the nation’s economy and food security.
In a high-level meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 31, the government unveiled new steps to integrate satellite data, precision irrigation systems, and drone technologies into its farming practices. The meeting builds on recent national efforts to increase the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural land use amid increasingly volatile climatic conditions.
At the center of Uzbekistan’s digital transformation in agriculture is Uzbekcosmos, the national space agency created in 2019. Over the past two years, satellite monitoring has been conducted across more than 4 million hectares of farmland. The data revealed discrepancies in land reporting, with some cotton fields found to be uncultivated or planted on undocumented plots.
Such findings have prompted the government to introduce remote monitoring systems for state-subsidized agricultural loans, ensuring targeted and transparent credit allocation. The broader goal: enhance land productivity while minimizing water waste — a mounting concern in this arid Central Asian nation.
A major issue remains Uzbekistan’s outdated irrigation norms, which have left over 3,000 downstream farmers without sufficient water. To address this, the government has pledged to revise irrigation standards and introduce contour-based digital water accounting, involving academic institutions and agricultural scientists. Smart water meters and online monitoring tools will also be installed in the country’s 60 largest reservoirs — many of which have seen capacity decline due to silt buildup, as revealed by the nation’s first-ever bathymetric survey.
Another pivotal announcement is the creation of “Digital Agriculture”, a single online platform integrating over 30 services related to land, subsidies, loans, and agri-services. Farmers will be empowered to input data on their crops, allowing authorities to monitor production in real-time — a key to maintaining price stability and ensuring food security in a warming climate.
Additionally, over 100 agricultural drones are expected to be deployed this autumn to assist in crop monitoring and spraying. The private sector will be encouraged to offer drone services, marking a further step toward tech-driven farming in Uzbekistan.
President Mirziyoyev emphasized the long-term implications of the reforms:
“Land and water are the future of our agriculture,” he said, stressing the need for transparent resource management, environmental responsibility, and digital modernization.
Notably, the government is also preparing legislation to prohibit the open-field burning of crop residue — a key contributor to air pollution and soil degradation.
References:
https://kun.uz/ru/news/2025/07/31/v-uzbekistane-tsifroviziruyut-agrarnyy-sektor
Botakoz Unbayeva
Contributing writer at EUReflect.