Agro-industrial complex and agriculture

The agro-industrial complex (ASM) is the unity of all branches taking part in growing farm products and getting them to the consumer. The first group includes branches that supply agriculture with machines, mineral fertilizers, pest-control products and feed for livestock. The second group is agriculture itself (crop growing and livestock). The third group is processing, preparing and distributing products: light and food industries, public catering and trade. A large part of the employed population works in the ASM, and much retail trade is farm products and goods made from them, so the people’s well-being and employment depend on the state of the ASM. After independence the structure of sown area changed: the cotton area was reduced while output of grain, potatoes, vegetables, fruit and grapes, meat, milk and eggs rose several times. Forms of land ownership also became varied: household (dehkan) farms, farm enterprises and other enterprises; the main part of output is grown by farm and household farms. In recent years clusters that combine growing, processing and selling have appeared. Agriculture starts from industry (machines, fertilizer) and ends with industry (processing): this is agro-industrial integration.