Deal Details

Kaizen Aerospace, a US-based heavy-lift autonomous aerial systems company, has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Uzbekistan's Ministry of Agriculture and the State Scientific-Design Institute "Oʻzdavyerloyiha" to deploy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies across the country's agricultural sector. The document was signed during Deputy Minister Alisher Shukurov's working visit to the United States.

The memorandum targets evaluation of drone operations across up to 300,000 hectares of intensively cultivated cotton fields — potentially one of the largest agricultural UAV deployments in Central Asia.

Key Figures

• 300,000 hectares — total cotton field area covered by drone trials
• 3 organizations involved: Kaizen Aerospace, Ministry of Agriculture, Oʻzdavyerloyiha
• Drone Academy — a professional training and development center will be established
• Joint venture — plans for local assembly and production of drones in Uzbekistan

Cooperation Areas

Under the framework, Kaizen Aerospace contributes drone technology expertise and operational know-how. The Uzbek partners provide local servicing infrastructure and agricultural inputs.

Planned areas of cooperation include:

• Establishing a UAV training and professional development center
• Conducting online and in-person seminars and knowledge exchange programs
• Creating a technical maintenance and service center for UAVs
• Developing methodologies for effective drone usage in agriculture
• Carrying out joint scientific research and practical projects

Phased Implementation

Both parties have agreed on a phased implementation strategy, including the development of a business model, financial mechanisms, and a roadmap for practical actions.

Experts say the initiative could significantly boost agricultural efficiency by optimizing resource use, reducing costs, introducing water-saving technologies, and increasing crop yields.

Broader Context

The agreement aligns with Uzbekistan's broader push to modernize its agricultural sector. In March, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on introducing AI, satellite monitoring, and digital technologies into agriculture. Agrobank has been tasked with mobilizing 25 trillion soums for these purposes.

In parallel, US machinery giant John Deere is in talks to potentially localize production in Uzbekistan, and 7 cooperation agreements have been signed with Italy in the agricultural sector.

What's Next

The memorandum carries no financial commitments or legally binding obligations — it serves as a foundation for further negotiations and definitive agreements. However, the 300,000-hectare trial scale signals Uzbekistan's serious intent to integrate drone technology into its farming infrastructure.

With drones, farmers can more precisely monitor crops, detect diseases early, optimize irrigation, and conduct targeted spraying operations.

Use the AI Scanner in the UFarmer app to identify plant diseases from a photo and get personalized agronomic advice.