October 23, 10:08Gazeta.uz

Greenhouses in Uzbekistan's capital region are allowed to use gas, electricity, and other safe energy sources

The Government of Uzbekistan has approved Resolution No. 586, establishing new rules for greenhouse farms in Tashkent and neighboring districts aimed at enhancing the environmental safety of their operations. This document sets a special ecological regime for greenhouses within the capital territory, as well as in the Yukorichirk, Kibray, Yangiyul, Zangiatin, and Tashkent districts of the Tashkent region, which have been designated as a special zone. The press service of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change reported on the adoption of these measures, noting that the proposals were submitted to the President on October 13.

Operating Conditions for Greenhouses in the Special Zone

Within the special zone, greenhouse enterprises equipped with heating systems may operate exclusively using natural gas (including liquefied gas), electricity, geothermal, and solar energy, as well as secondary thermal energy generated at thermal power plants. To commence such activities, obtaining a positive conclusion from the state ecological expertise is required.

Requirements for Using Solid Fuel

Greenhouse farms that use solid fuels, such as coal, biomass briquettes, or pellets, are obliged to switch their heating systems to the aforementioned types of energy and continue operating by December 1st. However, the use of solid fuel is permissible only if a number of strict conditions are met:

Equipping boiler units with an automated fuel supply and combustion process control system, as well as having dust and gas cleaning equipment with specified efficiency indicators.
Installing a Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) in accordance with national standards, integrating this system into the information resources of the Ecology Committee and ensuring constant real-time data transmission.
Possessing certificates of conformity for boiler units, dust and gas cleaning equipment, and automatic monitoring systems.
Installing online cameras for continuous monitoring of boiler operation and flue gas emission processes, followed by integrating these cameras into the Ecology Committee's information systems.
Ensuring that monitoring, cleaning, and camera systems are supplied with uninterruptible power supplies and backup generators for guaranteed electricity supply.
Strict procedures for the collection, transportation, and disposal of resulting waste, including ash, sludge, slag, and heavy metals.
Prohibition of any modifications to the equipment not stipulated in the technical documentation and affecting its functioning.

Furthermore, the use of tires, fuel oil, bitumen, plastics, polymer films, synthetic cardboard, rubber, wool fibers, waste oils, and other household or industrial waste of a similar composition as fuel is strictly prohibited in greenhouses within the special zone.

Financial Support for Greenhouse Farms

The resolution provides for financial assistance to greenhouse farms in the special zone for conducting ecological modernization. Until January 1, 2028, they can receive subsidies amounting to 50% of the costs for purchasing energy-saving screens, dust and gas cleaning equipment, boiler units, as well as heating equipment powered by electricity, geothermal, solar energy, or cogeneration. The subsidy amount must not exceed 50 million soms per hectare.

During the period 2026–2027, to support the transition to heating systems using solar, geothermal energy, or cogeneration, commercial banks will provide loans in national currency for seven years, including a three-year grace period, at an annual interest rate of 14% (of which 4% is the bank margin). The maximum loan amount is 50% of the project cost, but no more than 3 billion soms per hectare.

Additionally, greenhouse farms acquiring Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) will be allocated funds of up to 350 million soms per station. Financing is carried out under a tripartite agreement with a five-year interest-free installment plan, provided that the technical requirements approved by the Center for State Ecological Certification and Standardization under the Ecology Committee are met. Recipients of funds undertake to install the stations, integrate them into the committee's information system, and ensure continuous data transmission. In case of breach of contractual obligations, such as late payment or non-integration of stations, measures for dismantling and return of equipment will be applied, and overdue debt will be collected without prior notice.

Ecological standards are also being introduced for boiler units in other air-polluting industries. Enterprises affecting the environment will be classified into 'red', 'yellow', and 'green' categories depending on their level of ecological safety, and corresponding requirements will be enshrined in legislation.

Until January 1, 2030, the import of equipment necessary for the creation and modernization of greenhouses that is not produced in Uzbekistan will be exempt from customs duties. This benefit applies to dust and gas cleaning equipment, energy-efficient boilers, cogeneration units, equipment for geothermal and solar energy, as well as automated emission monitoring systems and their components.

Issues of Technical Water Reuse

According to the resolution, hazardous liquid waste generated in the filters of greenhouse heating systems, as well as hydroponic wastewater (filtrates), must be treated and reused as technical water. For this purpose, until January 1, 2027, a reservoir for temporary storage of filtrates will be built and commissioned in the Ekopromyshlennaya Zone of Akhangaran district. By June 1, 2027, an operator will be selected through a competitive tender to handle the processing of these filtrates. The Tashkent region Khokimiyat is obliged to allocate a land plot in the ecopromyshlennaya zone by November 1 of this year. The construction of the reservoir can proceed in stages according to design documentation and urban planning norms. Greenhouse owners, regardless of ownership form, are obliged to transfer generated filtrates to the appointed operator at established tariffs.

The Ecology Committee emphasized that the ecological modernization of greenhouse farms is critically important for improving air quality in Tashkent and surrounding areas, as the introduction of modern technologies reduces the environmental load and contributes to the formation of a sustainable industry development model. The department stresses the need to achieve a balance between business development, rational resource use, and the citizens' right to a healthy environment.

Previously, the Ecology Committee had received proposals from greenhouse representatives regarding the preservation of their operations conditional on installing special filters, but the presented filter sample did not pass inspection. In November 2025, against the backdrop of deteriorating air quality in Tashkent, a decision was made to urgently transition all capital and surrounding area greenhouses to gas heating. In March, it was reported that restrictions on the construction of new greenhouses in the capital and surrounding districts would come into effect from October 1st of this year. In June 2026, a special commission began dismantling and disconnecting greenhouses from artificial heating in the Tashkent region, offering entrepreneurs relocation to the 'Surkhon-Agro' free economic zone in the Surkhandarya region. Earlier, at the end of summer, the Hokim of Tashkent, Shavkat Umurzakov, stated in an interview with 'Gazeta' that options for using permitted fuels with emission purification and filter installation are being considered for those who wish to remain in the capital region, and financial support tools are also being discussed.

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www.aajtak.inOctober 23, 10:35

How to use tea remnants: natural ways for cleaning and home care

Every day many people start their morning with a cup of hot tea, but after preparation, most people throw away the leftover tea leaves, considering them useless. However, it is known that these discarded tea leaves can become a real blessing for household cleaning, giving shine to glassware, and improving plant health.

Thanks to the antioxidants and natural properties contained within them, tea leaves can easily solve many domestic tasks. Therefore, next time after straining tea, you should not throw away these leaves. Below are five of the most effective and useful ways to use them.

Five best ways to use tea remnants

Firstly, they can be used to give shine to glassware and windows. The used tea leaves must be thoroughly washed to remove all sugar and fat from milk. Then, these leaves need to be boiled in clean water and strained. Cleaning glassware, mirrors, and windows with this cold water makes them as radiant as new.

Secondly, dry, well-washed tea leaves are an excellent organic fertilizer for plants. Since the washed leaves contain nitrogen and various minerals, they should be mixed with soil in pots; this promotes faster growth and maintains the greenery of the plants.

Thirdly, tea leaves help restore the shine of wooden furniture. After boiling the leaves again, the water needs to be cooled. Then, by wetting a piece of cotton fabric in this water, one should wipe an old dining table, doors, or sofa to give the wood a new shine.

The fourth method is removing stubborn odors or grease from hands. If there is a strong smell remaining on your hands after cutting onions, garlic, or fish, it is enough to rub your hands with used tea leaves. This immediately eliminates both the unpleasant odor and the grease.

Finally, tea leaves are useful for cleaning cutting boards or kitchen sinks. Rubbing dirty tea leaves on the sink or wooden board effectively removes ingrained grease and bacteria, and also repels insects.

foodformzansi.co.zaOctober 23, 10:00

Methods to Protect Birds from Tick Infestations Causing Damage

Poultry keepers invest significant resources in raising healthy livestock, yet even tiny parasites can jeopardize the entire flock. Ticks that attach firmly can cause distress in birds, weaken them due to blood loss, and lead to weight loss. In severe cases, this can result in the death of hens, causing serious financial losses for farmers.

To detect infection promptly and protect the flock, it is important to know the signs of danger and maintain cleanliness in the poultry housing.

About a year ago, during his first experience as a poultry keeper, Mphatso Sithole, founder of Mphatso Poultry Pty Ltd in Dobha village, Kwaggafontein, Mpumalanga province, noticed that his chickens were excessively scratching, becoming less active, and laying fewer eggs.

The infection also affected him personally, as his skin began to itch after only a few minutes in the coop. He noted: 'I also noticed that they started laying fewer eggs than before.'

Sithole stated that he continues to use available means to maintain cleanliness in the coop and prevent the recurrence of parasites. However, he warned that substances intended for other purposes could harm the chickens if used incorrectly. Farmers should only use products approved for poultry and strictly follow the instructions on the label, consulting a veterinarian when necessary.

During training at Jeff Chicken Shack in Bela-Bela, Limpopo province, in 2024, Xolelwa Mthetho witnessed the consequences of bird tick infestations, including broken eggs, reduced production, and increased mortality among hens.

The farmer and founder of Kwande Poultry Farm in KwaNdungwana, Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, shared her experience, which showed her how ticks can affect both the health of the hens and the quality of their eggs. These parasites feed on the hens' blood, causing stress, decreased feed intake, pale combs, and restlessness. For layers, she added that infection can lead to a reduction in egg count, poorer shell quality, and an increase in breakage.

Mthetho cautions that introducing new birds to the farm without quarantine can endanger existing flocks, even if farmers adhere to vaccination schedules and other biosecurity measures. She emphasized: 'Even if you do everything possible as a farmer to keep your farm safe and follow all vaccination schedules, buying another batch without actual quarantine can be your downfall.'

Mthetho advised farmers to regularly clean and disinfect coops and nesting boxes, remove old bedding, maintain dryness and good ventilation in the housing, and check new birds for parasites before introducing them to the flock.

Ticks that attach firmly can cause irritation, blood loss, and, in severe cases, death in hens. Olwetu Laho, a zoologist, farmer, and owner of Tshitshi SC Farmers Store in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, explained how parasites spread, what signs farmers should look for, and how to manage the infestation.

Laho noted that ticks usually gather in featherless areas such as the comb, wattles, face, and around the eyes. However, he stressed that the problem is not limited to the bird: 'Female ticks lay eggs that fall into the litter or soil, so the problem is rarely just on the bird.'

He added that heavy infestation can cause anemia, poor body condition, and reduced egg production, with chicks and smaller birds being at greater risk. Although infestations can worsen during warm and humid periods, he stated that in some areas, parasites can persist year-round. Laho concluded: 'Firmly attached ticks are not strictly seasonal in all environments, but in many regions, their numbers increase in warmer and more humid months.'

Laho recommended that farmers regularly inspect their birds, especially those kept in free-range and outdoor systems where hens come into contact with soil and organic matter. He emphasized the importance of addressing environmental issues where ticks develop to control the infestation. Removing old bedding, cleaning coops, and managing contaminated litter and soil can help break the parasite's life cycle and reduce the risk of re-infection.