DILEMMAS AND BREAKTHROUGHS FOR UZBEK UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP UNDER THE GREEN ECONOMIC BACKGROUND

SCIENCE AND INNOVATION INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2025 ISSN: 2181-3337 | SCIENTISTS.UZ 152 DILEMMAS AND BREAKTHROUGHS FOR UZBEK UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP UNDER THE GREEN ECONOMIC BACKGROUND Lu Diying PhD Student, National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek; Teacher at Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, China https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17862572 Abstract. The evolving rural landscape in Uzbekistan presents unprecedented opportunities for university students to engage in entrepreneurial activities. This paper examines how student-led ventures can contribute to rural development, identifies key challenges they may encounter, and proposes actionable strategies to support their entrepreneurial endeavors. Keywords: university students; green agriculture; entrepreneurial activities; challenges; policy support. Introduction The 21st century has seen a global consensus emerge on addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development. In response, the green economy model, which aims to foster economic growth while minimizing environmental degradation through the efficient use of resources and the protection of ecosystems, is gaining increasing recognition from governments and international organizations worldwide. Within this context, the green transformation of the agricultural and rural sectors is considered a critical frontier. This transition demands a fundamental shift from traditional, resource-intensive farming methods towards a modern agricultural paradigm that is environmentally friendly, resource-conserving, and ecologically circular. As the most populous country in Central Asia, Uzbekistan relies heavily on its agricultural sector for economic development. However, the nation's rapid growth has brought to the fore critical challenges, including severe water scarcity, inefficient water use, low agricultural productivity, unstable farmer incomes, and lagging rural development—issues that have garnered significant attention from the government. Over the past decade, the state has introduced several key national development strategies. These policies aim to expand the adoption of drip irrigation, promote organic farming, improve rural living conditions, raise villagers' incomes, and advance the development of green agriculture. Uzbekistan possesses a substantial youth population, among whom university students represent an educated intellectual group regarded as a crucial force in driving national progress. Encouraging these students to return to or settle in rural areas to start businesses can serve as a channel for transferring knowledge, information, and market awareness from urban centers to the countryside. Moreover, such initiatives could effectively alleviate youth unemployment pressures. I. The Role of University Students in Developing Green Agriculture 1.1 Optimizing Rural Resources and Local Advantages University students possess a high level of knowledge and technical skills. Those who return to rural areas can leverage their expertise to provide crucial talent support for local economic development. Familiar with the local natural environment, land resources, and agricultural SCIENCE AND INNOVATION INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2025 ISSN: 2181-3337 | SCIENTISTS.UZ 153 products, these graduates are well-positioned to identify and capitalize on rural resource advantages. By aligning their initiatives with market demands and development trends, they can launch projects such as eco-agritourism farms, e-commerce platforms for organic produce, smart water-saving agriculture, and rural tourism. These endeavors facilitate the efficient utilization and value-added enhancement of agricultural resources, thereby promoting sustainable development in rural regions. 1.2 Stimulating Rural Economic Development Entrepreneurial initiatives led by university students can tap into new markets through both online and offline channels, thereby increasing the value-added and market price of agricultural products and generating benefits for local farmers. These ventures also create employment opportunities for the rural population, diversify their income sources, and contribute to improved living standards. Furthermore, such entrepreneurial activities can attract more talented young people back to rural areas, injecting new vitality into these communities. 1.3 Promoting Industrial Transformation and Upgrading in Rural Areas Against the backdrop of technological advancement and evolving market demands, rural development requires new approaches. University students, equipped with the capacity to acquire new knowledge and master emerging technologies, hold a distinct advantage in introducing green production techniques, advanced business concepts, and modern management models. Their entrepreneurial ventures can infuse fresh perspectives and innovative ideas into the rural economic landscape, thereby facilitating the transition of rural industries from traditional to modern paradigms. 2.Challenges Facing University Students in Rural Entrepreneurship 2.1 Financing Constraints Financing constraints represent the primary challenge for university students pursuing rural entrepreneurship. The generally lower household incomes in rural areas, compared to urban averages, limit families' capacity to provide substantial financial support for such ventures. Furthermore, most returning graduates have limited work experience and minimal personal savings, leading to persistent financial pressure throughout the startup process. Although the Uzbek government has introduced dedicated support mechanisms for youth entrepreneurship, such as establishing the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Fund and transforming Aloqabank into a “youth bank”. Rural startup projects are often perceived as higherrisk compared to industrial and service sector ventures. Consequently, banks tend to impose relatively stringent loan conditions on student entrepreneurs, making it more difficult for graduates to secure essential startup capital through traditional credit channels. 2.2 The Influence of Employment Perceptions A UNICEF survey reveals that while young people in rural Uzbekistan acknowledge certain inconveniences of rural life, they largely appreciate its freedom, tranquility, and close-knit social warmth. At the same time, they express a strong desire for greater access to higher education. Given that such educational opportunities are often hard-won, both these university graduates and their families tend to prioritize securing stable urban employment after graduation. This prevailing mindset leads some students to hesitate toward returning to their hometowns for entrepreneurship, primarily due to concerns over entrepreneurial risks and employment instability. 2.3 Limited Practical Competence Although some universities offer entrepreneurship courses and competitions, few specifically address agricultural business management or agri-product marketing. Students often SCIENCE AND INNOVATION INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2025 ISSN: 2181-3337 | SCIENTISTS.UZ 154 possess theoretical knowledge but lack practical agricultural experience, leading to a disconnect between technological applications and real-world farming conditions. Furthermore, their relative youth typically translates to underdeveloped management skills in areas such as cost control, supply chain development, and brand marketing. Fresh graduates also tend to have limited social experience, hindering their ability to effectively engage with government agencies, local farmers, cooperatives, and suppliers. This overall competence gap results in a scenario where aspiring entrepreneurs "understand technology but not the market, and possess enthusiasm but lack experience," leaving many projects struggling to gain traction. Furthermore, although the Uzbek government has been working to improve domestic infrastructure through increased central investment and the introduction of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), many rural areas still suffer from inadequate power supply, underdeveloped logistics networks, poor internet connectivity, a lack of cold chain facilities, and limited access to financial service outlets. These deficiencies directly increase both startup costs and operational difficulties for rural ventures. 3.Supporting University Students in Successful Rural Entrepreneurship The development of green agriculture relies on the return of knowledgeable, skilled, and motivated university students to rural areas. By leveraging their professional expertise, these graduates can not only help transform Uzbekistan's current agricultural production model but also contribute to the dual objectives of increasing farmers' incomes and promoting the circular use of agricultural resources. The Uzbek government is already establishing a youth entrepreneurship support system, with a planned investment of up to $10 billion. Within this framework, it is recommended that specific policies be introduced for university startups in the green agriculture sector, offering measures such as tax exemptions, subsidies, and low-interest loans to alleviate their financial burden. Additionally, the government should encourage major domestic agricultural companies to provide entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and advisory services to these students, helping them overcome challenges in the startup process. Furthermore, a dedicated agriculture track could be introduced in the "Best Creative Idea" competition to foster a sense of responsibility among students toward serving and driving development in rural areas. Under the impetus of the "Hour of Mastery and Business" initiative, agriculture-related universities should establish entrepreneurship courses and organize business competitions. These activities will enable students to learn and experience the entrepreneurial process through handson practice, thereby cultivating their entrepreneurial competencies and teamwork spirit. Simultaneously, collaboration between universities and agricultural enterprises should be strengthened to provide students with more opportunities to acquire practical knowledge and skills. During the process of university students returning to their hometowns to start businesses, local governments should provide more support and offer recognition and rewards to successful entrepreneurial teams. This will help incentivize more outstanding graduates to return to rural areas, contribute to the development of their hometowns, drive regional economic growth, and achieve the green transformation of the rural economy. Conclusion During Uzbekistan's transition towards a green economy, the return of university students to rural areas to start businesses can directly infuse green and sustainable principles into local development, serving as a vital bridge connecting national green strategies with grassroots SCIENCE AND INNOVATION INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2025 ISSN: 2181-3337 | SCIENTISTS.UZ 155 implementation. Therefore, it is essential for the government, universities, and all sectors of society to join forces in building a comprehensive and multi-level entrepreneurial support system. The government should continue to optimize the policy environment for entrepreneurship by not only providing financial support but also streamlining administrative procedures, creating “green channels” for student-led ventures, and lowering barriers to entry. Universities, for their part, should deepen educational reform by integrating entrepreneurship training into talent development programs and expanding industry-academia collaboration to help students gain hands-on experience in real-world settings and enhance their problem-solving capabilities. At the societal level, efforts should be made to encourage media coverage of successful rural entrepreneurship cases among university graduates, fostering a positive public perception. Additionally, social capital should be directed toward agricultural startup projects, offering diversified financing channels and venture capital opportunities for young entrepreneurs. Through these coordinated measures, the enthusiasm and potential of university students for rural entrepreneurship can be effectively stimulated, thereby advancing the growth of green agriculture in Uzbekistan and achieving a win-win outcome of rural revitalization and economic transformation. 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