Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 4 November congratulated farmers, agricultural workers and everyone involved in the sector on harvesting more than 5 million tonnes of raw cotton.
In his message, he described the result as a record for New Uzbekistan.
The president noted that the cotton crop had been harvested before the onset of bad weather by making use of the sector’s internal resources, according to the presidential press service.
The average cotton yield has increased 2.7 times, from 21 to 56 centners per hectare, the message said.
Cotton growers are expected to earn 13–14 trillion soums in net profit this year.
On nearly 400,000 hectares, average yields reached 70 centners per hectare, while on around 70,000 hectares they stood at 100–110 centners. About 1,000 farms and clusters achieved yields of 100 centners per hectare or more.
More than 4,000 farmers recorded yields exceeding 60–70 centners per hectare, while 2,500 achieved 80 centners. Anorboy Eshmatov from Pakhtakor District and Ulugbek Supiyev from Jarkurgan District each harvested 110 centners of raw cotton per hectare.
According to the message, these results were achieved through changes in planting patterns, a two- to threefold increase in the number of seedlings planted and the introduction of new biotechnological varieties resistant to cotton bollworm and herbicides.
Mirziyoyev also highlighted the establishment of a Cotton Council, the use of unconventional technologies by scientists and the digitalisation of the sector. The use of drones, he said, helped cut costs by half. Improvements in payment discipline, the subsidy system and the introduction of crop insurance also contributed to the results.
Average yields exceeding 60 centners per hectare were recorded in Jizzakh, Khorezm, Bukhara, Navoi and Syrdarya regions. In Karakalpakstan, yields increased by 10–15 centners compared with previous years, while the harvest exceeded 400,000 tonnes. Cotton growers in Mirzaabad and Khavast districts achieved yields of more than 70 centners per hectare.
In terms of total production, Kasan District ranked first with 110,000 tonnes. It was followed by Mirishkor District with 105,000 tonnes, Kasbi District with 95,000 tonnes, Nishan District with 90,000 tonnes and Mirzachul District with 85,000 tonnes.
Around 85% of the crop was harvested mechanically. More than 3,000 cotton harvesters completed the work in 30–35 days. Mechanisation reached 100% in Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions.
The president compared the current figures with previous periods. In the 1980s, around 2 million hectares in the country were allocated to cotton, while average yields did not exceed 30 centners per hectare. In 2000, cotton was planted on 1.4 million hectares and the harvest amounted to 3 million tonnes.
In recent years, cotton-growing areas have been reduced by 38%, the cotton monopoly has been abolished, and the practice of involving teachers, students, school pupils and public-sector employees in fieldwork has been discontinued. Water consumption is now half the level recorded in the 1990s, thanks to water-saving technologies.
Mirziyoyev also said that scientists and specialists from more than 30 countries had proposed establishing a World Cotton Centre in Uzbekistan at a recent forum in Tashkent marking World Cotton Day.
Next year, the country aims to increase the average cotton yield to 65–70 centners per hectare. Plans include expanding the cultivation of high-yield varieties and making wider use of agricultural drones, water- and energy-saving technologies, and artificial intelligence.
More than 3.5 million people are employed in Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector, according to the presidential message.
