Publication Details
Abstract
The fruit and vegetable sector is incredibly important in both developed and developing economies but most significant in developing economies where it contributes to employment, GDP and food security. This sector provides a sizeable proportion of agricultural output and export volume in Uzbekistan, and is an important source of livelihoods for the rural population while also shaping the development of periphery industry. The potential notwithstanding, the sector suffers from lack of matured market mechanisms with low processing & storage capacity, low technological adoption & poor integration of scientific methods, thus hampering improved exports and adding low value. The research objectives are to analyze the export potential of the products of fruits and vegetables and to propose the organizational and economic mechanisms for the formation of structural-structural-efficient production, processing, supply systems under market conditions. The results show that although export volume and geographical diversification is improving, processed production is low, there is outdated infrastructure leading to significant post-harvest losses, as well as lacking resource, logistics, and certification to maintain competitiveness. It systematizes sectoral problems based on Uzbekistan’s reforms and underlines clusters, cooperation and agro-industrial integration as structural solutions. The team writes that the findings indicate that immediate and medium-term policy measures for sustainable sectoral development are modernization of infrastructure, expansion of processing capacities, adoption of innovative and digital technologies, strengthening of institutional and financial support mechanisms to unleash export potential and enhance food security.