Uzbekistan has launched its first trial of artificial rain technology in the Kenimekh district of the Navoi region, the regional administration announced.

The initiative, spearheaded by district governor Ruslan Ruzayev, is part of broader efforts to tackle long-standing challenges such as water shortages, persistent drought, and limited rainfall, which have significantly hampered livestock farming in the region. 

For the first time, a high-tech device capable of inducing precipitation has been deployed in the area, offering a new approach to addressing environmental and agricultural concerns.

The project is being carried out in cooperation with the International Center of Climate Change Technologies, a Kazakhstani company specializing in climate innovation. By targeting desert pastures with artificially induced rainfall, the goal is to boost pasture regeneration and support sustainable livestock development.

This technology enables the manipulation of atmospheric conditions to create clouds and generate rain. The administration has emphasized the strategic importance of this innovation in tackling drought conditions that have plagued the region.

The move aligns with Uzbekistan’s broader environmental agenda. In 2024, Uzbekkosmos (Uzspace) reported the degradation of 35 hectares of desert vegetation in Bukhara and Navoi regions, a trend linked to climate change and intensified sand movement. In response, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for a comprehensive program to expand green areas in desert and semi-desert zones.

Artificial rain generation is also featured in the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy, specifically under the 2025 Action Plan for Water Resources Conservation and Environmental Protection. The plan outlines the creation of a working group by August 2025 to research cloud seeding techniques, assess their effectiveness, and explore potential localization within Uzbekistan.

According to the plan, practical recommendations for scaling the project will be developed in September 2025, with formal proposals to be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers by October.