Fergana economic region and Andijan region

The Fergana economic region consists of Andijan, Namangan and Fergana regions. It occupies only a little over four percent of the country’s territory, yet more than a quarter of the population (about 28 percent) lives here; the area is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Minerals lie mostly in the mountains: oil, gas, sulphur, tin, gold, refractory clay, building materials and healing waters. Because irrigated farming has gone on for thousands of years, the soils and vegetation have become cultivated. The region ranks first in the country by population, density and labour force; people increase mainly by natural growth, while new land to develop is limited, so demand for jobs is high. The problem can be eased by developing the social sphere and labour-intensive branches. Agriculture is very intensive: cotton, grain, fruit, grapes, vegetables and silk farming are developed, and fruit trees are grown in the mountain foothills. In industry, machine building, oil refining, chemicals, building materials, and light and food industries matter. The railway runs round the valley in a ring, and the region is linked with other areas by the Angren–Pop railway and road over the Kamchik Pass and by routes through Tajikistan.