Greenhouse farms in Uzbekistan today face a number of serious problems. The cost of production is increasing due to rising energy prices, as a result, about 40 percent of greenhouses in the country are in arrears on loans, taxes and electricity bills.
For example, they have debts of 79 billion soums for natural gas, 32.7 billion soums for tax payments and 4.8 billion soums for electricity. In addition, greenhouse farms have overdue payment of 554 billion soums on loans taken earlier, the total value of which exceeds 8 trillion soums.
The heads of greenhouses operating in the country filed a complaint with the presidential administration due to a problem with the gas shutdown, and, with the personal intervention of the head of state, they were reconnected to the gas supply system. After that, other problems in the industry were identified, for the solution of which a presidential decree “On additional measures to improve the efficiency of greenhouse farms” was prepared and adopted in a short time. This document has absorbed all the proposals that were voiced during meetings with the owners of greenhouses.
Price increase
Today there are 3142 greenhouses operating in Uzbekistan, of which 1622 have been built over the past 5 years. 51% of greenhouses use natural gas, 26% – coal, 23% – steam and alternative energy sources.
В то же время цены на продовольствие в мире выросли на 20% из-за экспортных ограничений и сбоев в транспортной логистике. В результате в бизнес-плане большинства теплиц стоимость 1 тонны продукта оценивалась в среднем в 600 долларов, тогда как в 2020 году стоимость составляла 900 долларов, а в 2021 году – 1200 долларов.
Стоимость 1000 кубометров природного газа, составляющая 40% себестоимости добычи, в Узбекистане составляет 90 долларов, а в среднем 110 долларов при использовании коэффициента 1,4 для потребления сверх лимита, в Туркменистане – 6 долларов, а в Казахстане – 76 долларов.
Из-за наложенных на должников инкассовых платежных поручений теплицы, работающие в убыток, производят и продают продукцию за наличные. В результате семена, удобрения и химикаты, приобретенные за наличные с НДС, приводят к увеличению себестоимости продукции.
Outstanding debt
Today, 40% of greenhouses in the country are in arrears on loans, taxes and electricity bills. The deadline for the payment of 554 billion soums on loans received totaling 8 trillion soums has expired. In addition, there is a debt on natural gas – 79 billion soums, on tax payments – 32.7 billion soums, on electricity – 4.8 billion soums.
How will the new document help?
As part of the new decree, the Agency for the Development of Horticulture and Greenhouses will facilitate the supply of seeds, seedlings, mineral fertilizers and other resources to greenhouses, attach an agronomist to each of them for the purchase and export of products. Plant protection services will be provided jointly with the Quarantine and Plant Protection Agency.
In order to support greenhouses, it is planned to extend the repayment periods of loans allocated by international financial institutions, state trust funds and the Reconstruction and Development Fund from 7 to 14 years, and the grace period from 3 to 5 years for greenhouses and cold storage facilities.
Also, commercial banks will allocate loans for a period of one year with a grace period of 6 months to replenish working capital. At the same time, loans will be provided at an annual rate of 14%.
Bank loans in foreign currency will be allocated at an annual rate of 4% (bank margin of 2%) for the production of export products in greenhouses. In this case, the insurance policy of the Uzbekinvest insurance company is accepted as collateral for the loan, and 75% of the insurance premium is covered at the expense of the Export Promotion Agency.
The repayment periods of the allocated loans will be adjusted taking into account the timing of harvest and sale of products, on this basis, their repayment schedules are approved. The amount of penalties for late payment of natural gas to greenhouse farms, as an exception, will not be charged from October 1, 2022 to April 1, 2023 (currently there is a penalty of 27 billion soums).
The resolution established that integrated areas for the organization of modern greenhouses and logistics centers of industrial type will be released into open auction trade in a single lot.
The Ministries of Finance, Energy, Agriculture, Water management, and regional authorities were instructed to approve within a month a program for the modernization of water supply and irrigation networks for greenhouses and the construction of power lines for 2022-2023. At the same time, the address list of projects implemented in 2022 is approved, the list for 2023 is formed by the republican working group. The finances will be allocated within the budget funds provided for small industrial zones.
In addition, the Ministries of Investment and Foreign Trade and Agriculture were instructed to create shopping complexes within a month with the possibility of storing, sorting and packing fruits and vegetables with the participation of the private sector in large export markets, and by the end of 2022 to make proposals for opening new export markets in Japan, South Korea and European countries.
The composition of the Republican Working Group on the improvement and development of the financial situation of greenhouses is also approved. Together with the regional authorities, it was instructed to identify inefficient greenhouse farms in the regions, transfer these greenhouses to new entrepreneurs and submit proposals for improving and developing the financial situation of greenhouse farms.
A source: https://podrobno.uz
