Tashkent City is increasing the volume of local shrub cultivation in order to fully cover its needs (import substitution)

In 2024, within the framework of the nationwide “Yashil makon” project and on the initiative of the Tashkent City Khokimiyat, work began in Bektemir district on forming one of the first territories of the capital’s ecological system — a green belt. At present, small greenhouses are also being set up among the trees planted there. Shrub seedlings are being grown in them from cuttings available to the city and district landscaping departments. 2,020 specialists and employees of the relevant agencies have been involved in this work.

It is planned to plant and grow at least 120 million shrubs from the available cuttings on an area of nearly 110 hectares — at least 10 million for each district. To organise this process, responsible employees have been designated in the districts and teams consisting of industry specialists have been formed.

Previously, large amounts of funds were directed towards purchasing shrubs, including imported varieties. Growing seedlings from existing cuttings makes it possible to reduce dependence on imports and cut the costs of buying ready-made seedlings.

At least five types of shrubs have been selected for propagation. These plants, adapted to the climate with the participation of specialists invited from abroad, have shown good results in Tashkent conditions over the past two seasons. Among the selected species are boxwood, ligustrum, Italian ligustrum, “Bravo” honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, barberry, euonymus, lavender, Indian nasturtium and thuja.

This is the first project of such a scale for growing shrubs from cuttings of climate-adapted imported varieties. The nurseries being established will become part of the green belt and an additional ecological shield for the capital, and will also make it possible to gradually meet the city’s need for seedlings. The development of local seedling cultivation will serve the planned greening of Tashkent, the strengthening of its ecological system and the improvement of the city’s microclimate.