TASHKENT, November 13. /“Dunyo” IA/. Today, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev is holding a meeting with participation of Kashkadarya region’s representatives, deputies of the local council, heads of ministries and agencies, reports “Dunyo” IA correspondent.
According to the Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the socio-economic situation in the region has been critically analyzed at the event.
“The main purpose of my visit is to identify specific tasks and measures to give a powerful impetus to the development of the region. Kashkadarya does not use its full potential. It lags far behind many regions of the country”, the Head of the state noted.
This region has great opportunities. But the state of its economy and social sphere does not correspond at all to this. Over the past 10 years, the region’s share in gross domestic product has fallen from 9.4 to 7.1 percent, and in industry from 11 to 6 percent.
– The gross regional product per capita here is one of the lowest in the country. Do people of Kashkadarya deserve this? – the President asked.
There is no scientific base, an innovative approach to the cultivation of agricultural products, no new varieties have been created that meet the climatic conditions of the region. Last year, the cotton yield was 19 centners per hectare, which was the lowest in the country. There is not enough agricultural machinery. The level of product processing is low.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev criticized the state of affairs in irrigation and land reclamation in the region. As a result of improper irrigation, 45 percent of land is salinized. In this regard, the situation is especially difficult in Mubarek, Guzar, Nishan and Kasan districts. 38 thousand hectares of land were removed from circulation. Drip irrigation has been introduced only on 2.4 percent of irrigated areas.
Provision of the population with drinking water in the region is 50 percent; in Kasan – 26 percent, and in Dehkanabad – only 4 percent. 60 percent of pipes need repair. The sewerage system in the city of Karshi is worn out. 8.7 thousand kilometers of roads in the region fell into disrepair.
The issue of quality of education and medical care was considered.
It was noted that studies are carried out in several shifts in 88 schools of the region, and separate branches of schools are built of broken clay. Kashkadarya youth ranks 13th in Uzbekistan in terms of admission to higher education institutions. And this year, none of the graduates of 191 schools in the region could enter the university.
There is a shortage of 257 narrow-profile doctors and 855 in primary care. The region needs 18 more family polyclinics and 30 family doctor’s offices. Despite the fact that each family clinic should have an average of 25-30 thousand citizens, this figure in the region is 90 thousand.
Other problems, existing opportunities are also being analyzed at the meeting. Priorities for comprehensive development of Kashkadarya and improving the living conditions of the population are being discussed.
