Heads of districts in Uzbekistan will now be personally responsible for curbing inflation in their respective areas, stated the President of Uzbekistan. He emphasized that this should be achieved not artificially, but through increasing the replanting of agricultural crops, Gazeta.uz reports.
The responsibility for curbing inflation in Uzbekistan's districts will fall directly on the shoulders of the "hokims" (local governors). President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced these new duties for the hokims during a meeting in Bukhara, the spokesperson for the President of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Asadov, said.
"I sternly warn the hokims. Curbing prices should not come at the expense of coercing entrepreneurs to sell their products at low prices," emphasized President Mirziyoyev during the meeting.
"This task must be achieved solely and exclusively through increasing replanting and boosting production volumes," stated Mirziyoyev.
"The annual inflation rate in July reached 8.9%, and in the food sector, it was 10.7%. An important factor is that potatoes, onions, flour, and oil products have relatively become cheaper compared to the previous year," noted the President.
"However, due to improper organization of re-planting work in certain regions, prices for carrots increased by 52%, tomatoes doubled in price, and cucumbers rose by 1.7 times," highlighted the President of Uzbekistan.
Regarding potatoes as a secondary crop, he added that they were planted on only 44,000 hectares across the country.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 11, 2023