“I want to apply my Korean experience in my village” – a young man from Shahrihon reclaims unused farmland

Shukhrullo Tokhtasinov, a resident of Dolan village in the Shahrihon district of Andijan region, spent six years working in South Korea’s agricultural sector, gaining valuable experience. Upon returning to Uzbekistan, he began reclaiming several hectares of unused land along drainage canals. In addition to growing crops on these idle plots, he also plans to develop silkworm farming. At his own home, he has already established an innovative greenhouse.

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At 29, Shukhrullo is also preparing to open a free training center in his village to teach young people agricultural skills.

“While working in Korea, I saw firsthand how even the smallest piece of land is used efficiently. But when I came back to Uzbekistan, I was truly saddened to see so much neglected land going to waste.

To set an example, I cleaned up some unused farmland and the inner banks of the drainage canals. I installed polyethylene pipes, enriched the soil with organic compost, and planted tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers. The results are promising. However, tractors and machinery cannot operate along the canal banks. That’s because every four years, an excavator digs out the canal and piles the soil onto its banks, making them uneven. So, I’ve been doing all the cleaning by hand.

I have another idea. Plastic bottles keep floating down the canals. If we collect them and purchase special machinery, we could recycle them and produce our own plastic pipes. This would also benefit the environment.

In Korea, I learned everything from high-tech to traditional greenhouses — I’m skilled in both. I also have experience in silkworm breeding, since our family raised them when I was a child. From April to May, silkworms can be cultivated, and in the remaining months, we can use the same greenhouses — by covering the top with plastic film — to grow other crops.

My goal is to identify abandoned lands and set up special facilities for silkworm farming. This way, I hope to help unemployed locals generate a good income.

In South Korea, I also learned some of the most in-demand trades. I know five types of welding. I was involved in all seasonal agricultural work, and I’ve mastered both simple and complex greenhouse construction based on innovative project designs.

At my home, I’ve built a greenhouse using Korean technology to grow tropical fruits. So far, we’ve planted bananas and strawberries, and I’m planning to grow papaya next.

Here are the strawberries — they’re already ripe. We’ve also planted lemon trees. In short, I want to put the knowledge I gained in South Korea to use here in my homeland. I won’t leave a single piece of land in my village unused,” says Shukhrullo Tokhtasinov.