FOOD SECURITY IN CENTRAL ASIA: THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF UZBEKISTAN AND KAZAKHSTAN

Food security is a state in which all residents of a country at any time have physical, social and economic access to sufficient quantities of safe and nutritious food. The aim of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the current state and key trends of food security in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan — two landlocked Central Asian countries. The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive comparative analysis of food security in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, focusing on the interrelationship between water scarcity, the structure of agricultural exports, and logistical constraints, as well as in the development of specific recommendations for joint management of irrigation systems and coordination of transport corridors in Central Asia. The analysis revealed contrasting development trajectories: Uzbekistan has achieved significant growth in consumption of basic foodstuffs and fruit-and-vegetable exports, yet retains high dependence on the Russian market (approximately 42 %) and faces acute water scarcity; Kazakhstan provides more diversified exports (with China and Uzbekistan as leading partners), but records a decline in consumption of certain products and persistent regional disparities in poverty levels. Based on the findings, recommendations are formulated for joint investments in flood-protection and irrigation infrastructure and for coordination of transport policies to avoid duplication of projects and to achieve mutual benefits. Keywords: food security, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, water resources, transport corridors, agricultural exports, poverty level.