Uzbekistan creating $35 mln sheep farming cluster - authorities

TASHKENT. June 23 (Interfax) - A sheep farming cluster costing $35 million is being set up in Uzbekistan's Namangan region, says a statement posted on the Uzbek president's website.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Namangan Sheep Farming Cluster on Tuesday.

"The project, costing $35 million, is being implemented in three phases. Built on a 10-hectare site, the cluster is expected to become one of the region's largest sheep breeding and meat production facilities. During the first phase, 15,000 pedigree sheep will be imported. An additional 35,000 animals are planned for the second phase. The project will focus on adapting high-yield sheep breeds, including Arashan, Gissar, and Edilbay, to local climatic conditions," the statement says.

Once fully operational, the facility is projected to produce between 35,000 and 40,000 tonnes of meat annually, In addition, the complex will house modern logistics services, veterinary and service centers, as well as retail outlets for selling products directly to consumers.

Mirziyoyev also visited Uychi Parranda, an enterprise in the Turakurgan district encompassing the production of breeder eggs, incubation and meat products.

The Uychi Parranda poultry cluster on 121 hectares is being developed with $50 million in loan funds. The enterprise has 60,000 breeding chickens purchased from the leading Hungarian genetics company Aviagen. "Modern technologies allow for the daily collection of 60,000 breeding eggs and the hatching of up to 50,000 chicks in incubators," the statement says.

"The need to scale up this successful experience by building new poultry farms was mentioned. This will allow the total poultry population in the region to reach 12 million, and create 500 new jobs directly or up to 1,000 new jobs taking cooperation into account," it says.

Mirziyoyev also saw a presentation of a 100-hectare super-intensive orchard in the Pap district costing more than $7.1 million.