Focus on Seed Programs: The Uzbekistan Seed Industry

Abstract

Uzbekistan is located between longitude 64oE and latitude 41oN and bordered by Kazakhstan in the west and north; Afghanistan and Turkmenistan in the south, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the east. Uzbekistan has a total area of 44.8 million hectares. About 4.5 million hectare is arable, of which 4 million hectare is irrigated. Agriculture plays a major role in the economy, employing 44% from a total population of 26.8 million (1.7% growth rate) and contributing 38% to the GDP. Uzbekistan has extreme continental type climate, with hot dry summers, unstable weather in winter, and a wide variation in seasonal and daily temperatures. The desert and steppes are characterized by short winters with thin and unstable snow cover, and hot dry dusty summers. The mountains (over 600 masl) have high rainfall (up to 200 mm per year).