THE EVOLUTION OF ECONOMIC MECHANISMS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN UZBEKISTAN: A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF POLICY, FINANCE, AND INNOVATION

Uzbekistan is currently implementing the Strategy for Agricultural Development 2020–2030 to transition its agrarian sector toward a market-oriented, sustainable model. This transformation seeks to address severe ecological constraints, including the Aral Sea crisis and escalating soil salinity, by integrating independent producers into a vertically structured agro-cluster system. A range of new economic mechanisms has been introduced to incentivize sustainability, most notably the "Better discipline – cheaper credit" rating system and the proactive digitization of state support via the Agrosubsidy platform. Furthermore, the scaling of water-saving irrigation technologies—such as drip and sprinkler systems—and the institutionalization of long-term land lease rights by 2027 are designed to improve resource efficiency and financial predictability for farmers. The growth of green financing also provides critical pathways for funding climate-resilient and energy-efficient agricultural modernization.