Journal of critical reviews 271 Journal of Critical Reviews ISSN- 2394-5125 Vol 7, Issue 3, 2020 Review Article STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF REGIONS OF UZBEKISTAN Bakhtiyor Ruzmetov 1 , Dilfuza Matyakubova 2 , Dilshod Ibadullaev 3 1 Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, Faculty of Tourism and Economics, Urgench State University, Urgench, Uzbekistan. 2 Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Tourism and Economics, Urgench State University, Urgench, Uzbekistan. 3 Lecturer, Faculty of Tourism and Economics, Urgench State University, Urgench, Uzbekistan. E-mail address: baxtar50@mail.ru Received: 01.11.2019 Revised: 10.12.2019 Accepted: 25.01.2020 Abstract The article analyzes the strategic directions of sustainable development of the agrarian sector in Uzbekistan. Proposals on strategies for priority development of agrarian sector in the regions of the country have been developed. Key words: Region, strategy, strategic direction, agrarian sector, sustainable development, innovation, innovative technologies, cluster, export potential, index-strategic planning. © 2019 by Advance Scientific Research. This is an open-access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.03.54 INTRODUCTION A new wave of market transformation is taking place in the regions of Uzbekistan with the aim of increasing the efficiency of the agricultural sector. In this regard, research on strategic tasks and development directions of the agricultural sector is becoming relevant. This opens up the possibility for territorial entities to determine the direction and pace of development of this sector, outline global trends in the food market, and understand what organizational and structural changes should occur in this area in order to achieve competitiveness and successful development [1]. Given the heterogeneity of the conditions for regional development, the following main goals for sustainable development of the agricultural sector should be considered: • provision of various population strata with food products (based on rational norms of healthy nutrition of all population groups according to their income level); • increasing the efficiency of economic activities and ensuring sustainable development of agriculture in order to maximize the benefits of available natural resources, taking into account the preservation of their integrity; • expansion of innovative forms of land use and livestock farms (greenhouses, clusters, agricultural cooperation) in order to increase financial sustainability and gradual expansion of export potential, entering new potential markets [2]. MATERIAL AND METHODS The agricultural sector has particular importance for the country's economy, since it not only satisfies the needs of the population in food stuff, but also ensures employment of the population and provides the basis for the effective functioning of other economic sectors. In particular, the agricultural sector provides employment for 3.6 million people (27% of total employment in the economy). It contributes 32% to country’s GDP. In 2015-2018 the average annual growth rate of agricultural production amounted to 104.0% in all categories of farms. In territorial context, the average growth rate of agricultural production observed in regions of Uzbekistan were as follows: in Andijan (105.7%), Bukhara (105.0%), Navoi (103.9%), Tashkent (102.8%), Ferghana (101.7%) ), Jizzakh (101.6%) regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan (103.3%). In other regions a decrease in annual growth rate was observed: in Namangan (99.5%), Khorezm (98.9%), Syrdarya (97.9%), Surkhandarya (96.9%), Kashkadarya (96.9%), and Samarkand (94.4%) regions, which can be attributed to the shortage of water resources for irrigation and high levels of salinization of sown areas, as well as a decrease in the production of the main crops, such as cotton, grain, potatoes, vegetables, melons, etc. In recent years, an active policy has been pursued in the regions of the republic to optimize the structure of sown areas, first of all, via the reduction of low productive sown areas under cotton. Analysis of statistical data indicates changes in the structure of sown areas under various crops in the regions. For example, in the period of 2015-2018 the largest increase in sown area under grain was observed in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (26.7%), Andijan (11.1%) and Navoi (11.8%) regions. At the same time, a decrease in sown areas under grain was noted in Jizzakh (8.5%), Surkhandarya (2.5%) and Ferghana (1.4%) regions. Sown areas under potatoes, vegetables and melons increased more than two-fold in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, in Khorezm region - 1.9 times, Kashkadarya - 1.8 times and Ferghana - 1.7 times. At the same time, a relatively moderate increase in sown areas under potatoes, vegetables and melons was observed in such regions as Jizzakh (by 6.8%), Bukhara (9.9%) and Syrdarya (11.6%). Sown areas under fodder crops increased in Bukhara (2.2 times), Jizzakh (1.8 times) and Namangan (1.7 times) regions.