TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 12. Within the framework of Japan International Cooperation Agency's (JICA) $200 million loan for the project on horticulture development, it is planned to assist in the cultivation of blueberries in Uzbekistan, Trend reports.
This was revealed during a presentation at the "Uzbekistan - New World Leader in Blueberry Production" forum organized by the project's consultants with the invitation of leading experts from Poland.
Currently, about 10 percent of blueberries consumed in Uzbekistan are produced inside the country, and 90 percent are imported. It is planned to grow blueberries in the Ferghana Valley, Tashkent and Surkhandarya regions.
In addition to preferential financing, the project also provides for training in Uzbekistan and organization of foreign trips for Uzbek farmers, including to Poland (the leader of blueberry supplies in Europe), as well as the creation of demonstration plots for blueberry cultivation in Uzbekistan.
According to experts, blueberry production can bring profit up to $10,000-15,000 per hectare, while the profit from most agricultural crops is $2,000-3,000 per hectare in Uzbekistan.
The presentation aroused great interest among the forum participants representing the food sector, commercial banks and scientists.
JICA's Horticulture Development Project provides soft loans to fruit and vegetable farmers at the refinancing rate of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan for up to 15 years, including a grace period of up to 5 years.
Meanwhile, JICA signed a loan agreement with Uzbekistan to provide a loan of up to $246.5 million to finance a program to support sustainable economy and social development.
The loan is allocated for 30 years with a grace period of 10 years at an interest rate of 1.8 percent per year.