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In Uzbekistan, more than 5 million tons of cotton have been harvested again for the first time in 35 years

In Uzbekistan, for the first time in 35 years, a cotton harvest of more than 5 million tons has been gathered. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, congratulating agricultural workers, called it a «truly historic victory» and «a real miracle of New Uzbekistan in cotton growing».

The high figure was achieved despite a reduction in sown area by 2 times compared with 1990 (when 5.058 million tons were harvested) — from 1.83 million hectares to 890 hectares. The average yield over 36 years has doubled — from 27.6 centners per 1 hectare to 56.2 centners.

85% of the harvest was gathered with the help of more than 3,000 cotton harvesters over 30−35 days. In the Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions, the level of mechanization has been brought to 100%, and other regions are also approaching this figure.

According to official data, gross output fell to a minimum in 2018 (2.31 million tons). In 1990—2018, yields fluctuated in the range of 20−27 centners. Since 2019, steady growth has been observed. In 2025, the average yield reached 45.5 centners, and in the current year it increased by another 10.7 centners.

«We cannot help but remember the difficult days when cotton growing brought the country and the people not benefit, but hardships and suffering, and ultimately led to unfounded slander, the so-called „Uzbek case“. And of course, we mentally ask ourselves: „Who were we and who have we become?“» — the head of state noted.

He recalled that in Soviet times, in particular in the 1980s, about 2 million hectares of land were allocated in the republic for cotton cultivation, and the average yield did not exceed 30 centners.

In recent years, the area under cotton crops has been reduced by 38% and the cotton monopoly has been eliminated. «We eradicated the involvement of teachers, students and pupils, and employees of budgetary organizations in field work. We gave priority to the development of the industry based on scientific achievements and modern agrotechnologies,» the president noted.

«It is extremely important for us that thanks to the widespread introduction of water-saving technologies, water consumption has been cut in half compared with the 1990s, while the amount of harvest obtained per cubic meter of water continues to grow,» the head of state emphasized.

«This year, changes in sowing patterns, a 2−3-fold increase in the number of seedlings, and the placement of new biotechnological varieties resistant to cotton bollworm and herbicides have paid off... The average yield on almost 400,000 hectares of land reached 70 centners, and on about 70,000 hectares — 100−110 centners,» Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated.

About 1,000 farms and clusters have reached the 100-centner mark and above. More than 4,000 farmers have an average yield exceeding 60−70 centners, 2,500 have 80 centners, and Anorboy Eshmatov from Pakhtakor district and Ulugbek Supiev from Jarkurgan district harvested 110 centners of raw cotton per hectare each, the president said.

In the Jizzakh, Khorezm, Bukhara, Navoi and Syrdarya regions, yields exceed 60 centners. In Karakalpakstan, despite the severe environmental situation, yields have increased by 10−15 centners compared with previous years, and a harvest of more than 400,000 tons has been achieved.

Among the factors that influenced the increase in yield, the president listed the creation of the Cotton Council, the use of nontraditional technologies by scientists, and a 2-fold reduction in costs through digitalization and the use of drones.

«Along with this, the rational use of financial resources allocated by the state, improved payment discipline, improved subsidization, the creation of an insurance system, in a word, the complete renewal of the system in the industry played a significant role in achieving high results,» he added.

It is expected that this year cotton farmers will receive 13−14 trillion soums in net profit, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

Today, more than 3.5 million farmers are employed in Uzbekistan`s agricultural sector. «We are ready to create for you any additional conditions and opportunities that are necessary, — the president said. — Steady and sustainable progress in agriculture is a factor of priority importance in the accelerated and sustainable development of the entire country».

A World Cotton Center is being created in Uzbekistan. The goal has been set to raise the country`s average cotton yield next year to 65−70 centners per hectare by creating even greater conditions for sowing high-yield varieties, the widespread use of agrodrones, water- and energy-saving technologies, and artificial intelligence, Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted.