RENEWABLE ENERGY INTEGRATION IN UZBEKISTAN'S AGRICULTURE: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND POLICY PATHWAYS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

     Abstract. Uzbekistan’s agriculture sector employs over 40% of the workforce and plays a key role in GDP and food security. However, it heavily depends on energy-intensive irrigation, greenhouse heating, and processing, with irrigation pumping alone consuming over 8 billion kWh annually. Reliance on natural gas, diesel, and coal increases costs and environmental pressures. This paper analyzes the potential of renewable energy sources such as solar PV, biogas, small-scale wind, and geothermal energy in agriculture. The findings show that wider adoption could significantly reduce energy costs, improve resilience, and support Uzbekistan’s NDC targets. However, high initial investment costs, limited knowledge, and weak incentives remain major barriers. Addressing these challenges could make agriculture a leading sector in Uzbekistan’s transition to 25–30% renewable electricity by 2030.