DEVELOPMENT OFINNOVATION ANDINVESTMENTACTIVITIESIN AGRICULTURE:A SCIENTIFIC-PRACTICAL APPROACH BASEDONTHEEXAMPLE OFKASHKADARYA REGION

Аннотация

This article examines the transformative role of innovation and investment in advancing the agricultural sector of Kashkadarya, a strategically vital region in Uzbekistan. Despite favorable agro- climatic conditions, the region has historically faced low productivity due to outdated technologies and limited investment. Through a mixed-method analysis combining statistical data, field studies, and predictive modeling, the study reveals significant progress in resource-efficient technologies, digital farming, and agri-logistics. Investments exceeding $2 billion—of which $300 million targeted agro- innovation—have improved yields by 15–25% and reduced water use by 30–40%. However, systemic challenges persist, including limited farmer access to finance, institutional fragmentation, and ecological risks. The study concludes that a coordinated, multi-scalar strategy—integrating policy, research, and farmer engagement—is essential to scale and sustain agricultural modernization. Kashkadarya’s experience offers a replicable model for boosting productivity, rural incomes, and climate resilience across similarregions in Uzbekistan and beyond. Keywords: Agriculture, innovation, investment, Kashkadarya region, digital technologies, resource efficiency, water-saving systems, productivity, agro-logistics, sustainable development, smallholder farms, research and development, agrotechnologies, digitalfarming. Annotatsiya. Ushbu maqolada Qashqadaryo viloyati misolida O‘zbekiston qishloq xo‘jaligini innovatsiya va investitsiyalar orqali modernizatsiya qilish jarayoni tahlil qilinadi. Garchi mintaqa agro-iqlimiy sharoitlari bilan qulay bo‘lsa-da, texnologik eskirish va investitsiya tanqisligi sababli hosildorlik darajasi past bo‘lib qolmoqda. Aralash tadqiqot metodologiyasi asosida o‘tkazilgan tahlillar shuni ko‘rsatadiki, 2 milliard AQSH dollaridan ortiq investitsiyalar, shu jumladan 300 million dollari agro-innovatsion loyihalarga yo‘naltirilgan, hosildorlikni 15–25% ga oshirib, suv sarfini 30–40% ga kamaytirishga erishilgan. Shunga qaramay, moliyalashtirish imkoniyatlarining cheklanganligi, institutsional muvofiqlashtirishning zaifligi va ekologik xatarlar hali ham muhim to‘siqlar bo‘lib qolmoqda. Tadqiqot yakunida, barqaror va samarali qishloq xo‘jaligini shakllantirish uchun siyosat, ilmiy tadqiqot va fermerlar bilan hamkorlikka asoslangan ko‘p bosqichli strategiya zarurligi ta’kidlanadi. Qashqadaryo tajribasi O‘zbekistonning boshqahududlari uchun ham amaliy model bo‘laoladi. Kalit so‘zlar: Qishloq xo‘jaligi, innovatsiya, investitsiya, Qashqadaryo viloyati, raqamli texnologiyalar, resurs tejamkorlik, suvtejash tizimlari, hosildorlik, agro-logistika, barqaror rivojlanish, dehqon xo‘jaliklari, ilmiy-tadqiqot va innovatsionfaoliyat, agrotexnologiyalar, raqamli dehqonchilik Introduction. The transformation of agriculture into a knowledge-intensive and innovation-driven sector has become a key priority for sustainable development in many emerging economies. In Uzbekistan, agriculture remains a critical pillar of the national economy, employing nearly 30% of the labor force and contributing approximately 17–24% to the country’s GDP. Within this national framework, the Kashkadarya region holds strategic importance due to its favorable agro-climatic conditions, extensive irrigated lands, and a predominantly rural population that heavily depends on agricultural activities for livelihood. Despite its potential, the region's agricultural sector continues to face structural and technological challenges. Traditional farming practices, inefficient water use, and limited access to modern agro- www.wordlyjournals.com AXBOROTTEXNALOGIYALARIVAMENEJMENTUNIVERSITETI INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OFSCIENCE ScientificBulletin ISSN:306-4583 VOLUME 3,ISSUE1,2025 technologies constrain productivity. For example, Uzbekistan’s average agricultural productivity lags behind global benchmarks, with yields per hectare in key crops such as wheat and cotton being 20–30% lower than those in technologically advanced agricultural systems. Moreover, only a small fraction of agricultural GDP—less than 0.1%—has historically been invested in research, innovation, and advisory services, far belowinternational standards that recommend a minimumof0.5%. Recent trends, however, signal a shift toward modernization. National investments in agriculture have increased to over USD 1.5 billion annually, with targeted reforms aimed at improving irrigation efficiency, mechanization, and digitalization. In Kashkadarya, the adoption of drip irrigation and precision farming technologies has demonstrated potential, reducing water consumptionby upto 35%and increasing crop yields by 25–30% in pilot areas. Furthermore, dehkan (family) farms—which produce over 60% of the country’s food supply despite occupying less than 5% of arable land—have shown higher productivity when supported byinnovation andinvestment. Nonetheless, the innovation ecosystem in rural regions remains underdeveloped.