The years have not been kind – those who took part in the land development campaign and paved the better way for future, while contributing their youth, energy, and even life to transformation of the Steppe into blossoming garden, have been leaving us. The human memory is short. However, the graybeard steppe developers, the people of great strengths, genuine tolerance, and international-mindedness, representing different specializations, cannot forget those who worked there in hot summer and severe winter conditions and who have managed to conquer a great steppe.   

Since independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mirzacho’l has been intensively developed to serve the Uzbek people. Once the region of creeping desert and chapped takyr, today Mirzacho’l has become the land that produces the best varieties of melon and water-melon, groundnuts and onions, wheat and cotton. New and up-to-date ICT, food, textile, and processing industries develop here. The left-bank of Syr Darya and the heart of the vast areas of the formerly known Hungry Steppe have radically changed. The sunny plain is to become the modern, competing region in the future. Its industrious people, who introduce themselves with proud as Mirzacho’lers, are eager not to be behind their neighbors.    

This book is not so much about Mirzacho’l and Hungry Steppe as about great pioneers and developers of virgin lands. Their memories will linger on in the history of mighty and blossoming Mirzacho’l.