Uzbekistan reaches record cotton production of five million tons

Uzbekistan reached a record milestone by producing five million tons of cotton, a result of agricultural modernization and reforms led by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The government eliminated forced labor and introduced market principles to the agricultural sector. These changes provided financial incentives for cotton pickers, who harvested 85 percent of the crop in about one month. In the Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions, workers fully mechanized the harvesting process.

The country also established a cluster system to integrate the entire production chain from raw cotton to finished goods. Farmers adopted drip irrigation, biotechnology-based cotton varieties, and digital technologies like drones to improve productivity and reduce costs. These reforms aimed to increase the economic potential of the nation and improve the well-being of farmers and textile workers.