Impact of grape production on improved family income in Uzbekistan: Case study of small-scale grape producers in the Samarkand region, Republic of Uzbekistan.

Abstract

Uzbekistan is a developing country in Central Asia with an area of 447,400 km². Most of the agricultural production in Uzbekistan involves irrigated agriculture. Arable land accounts for 4.4 million ha, which is approximately 10% of Uzbekistan’s total area. The role of agriculture is vital to the national economy, particularly in terms of food security and employment, and provides an important income source for 4.7 million households that operate dehkan (small-scale) farms in rural and disproportionately poor communities. The current study was carried out in 13 villages in the Samarkand region to identify the current conditions and challenges of local dehkan grape producers by measuring income, consumption expenditure and food security, and paying attention to heterogeneity among farmers. The results of the current research revealed that viticulture contributed to 84.1% of total dehkan income and played a significant role in household welfare. We divided respondents into four groups by farm size (1^st group: < 0.36 ha; 2^nd group: 0.36-0.50 ha; 3^rd group: 0.51-0.70 ha; and 4^th group: > 0.70 ha), and found differences among them in various household characteristics, including the importance of viticulture income. In addition, several challenges were identified, including a lack of infrastructure, prevalence of pests and diseases, high prices of inputs, water shortages, low prices of grapes and raisins, lack of capital, limited access to markets, and lack of skills. These findings have important implications for viniculture development and further increases in dehkan income and well-being.