South Korea Expands Support for Farm Technology in Uzbekistan

South Korea is helping Uzbekistan mechanize rice planting, improve dairy cattle breeding, and grow strawberries year-round. The projects aim to raise farm output and conserve water while opening new markets for Korean equipment and technology. For farmers considering a modern greenhouse, the upfront cost remains a barrier. On September 14, 2026, South Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture signed an agreement to expand specialist training. It was one of 13 cooperation documents signed in Seoul that day. Much of the work takes place through two initiatives overseen by the RDA. The Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) adapts farming technologies to local conditions. The Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative brings countries together for joint research. By 2025, the RDA had trained 116 Uzbek specialists in fields including rice cultivation, livestock farming, horticulture, and agricultural advisory services. Rice Planting and Water Conservation Korean rice transplanters have been in use in Uzbekistan since 2018. The RDA reported that mechanized transplanting reduced labor requirements by 70% and increased productivity by as much as 52%. Its May 2026 announcement gave no figures for the trial acreage, the number of participating farms, or the starting levels of labor use and productivity. In August 2024, Uzbekistan approved plans to work with KOPIA on rice seed production centers in Gurlan District in the Khorezm region. The same resolution provided subsidies for 2025 and 2026 covering 20% of the cost of eligible new rice seeders and transplanting equipment. The RDA plans to expand the area used for high-quality rice seed production under its program from 83 hectares in 2025 to 200 hectares by 2027. Uzbekistan’s farms depend on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, the main rivers of the Aral Sea basin, making water savings in rice cultivation particularly important. In 2024, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture reported that drip irrigation used half as much water as conventional irrigation in a trial in Karakalpakstan. A July 2025 government resolution called for drip irrigation trials on at least 10 hectares in each of six regions in 2026. Whether those trials can match the savings reported in Karakalpakstan remains unclear. A separate provision assigned KOPIA a role in training rice seed producers. Dairy Cattle Breeding Embryo transfers allow farmers to breed cattle with desirable traits without importing large numbers of breeding animals. The RDA’s dairy demonstration program in Uzbekistan involved three farms. Of the 30 cows that received Korean embryos, 50% became pregnant, according to the agency. It put the typical pregnancy rate for other imported embryos at 30%. On May 13, 2026, Korean exporters and a farm in the Syrdarya region signed a letter of intent to supply the farm with Korean dairy cattle embryos. The following day, the RDA and the Uzbek agriculture ministry agreed to train specialists in livestock artificial insemination. The agreement also calls for simpler registration of veterinary medicines, which could make it easier for Korean suppliers to enter the Uzbek market. Smart Greenhouses and Strawberry Production With South Korean...