Uzbekistan cotton harvest tops 5 million tons

The gain matters because cotton remains a strategic crop for Uzbekistan’s rural economy, foreign sales and industrial supply chain. Higher yields mean more exportable fiber, stronger farm incomes and less pressure to expand planted area just to hold output steady. Officials said farmers are expected to earn 13 trillion to 14 trillion soum in net profit this year, a sizable boost in a country where agriculture remains a major employer.

The harvest also reflects a broader modernization drive. The ministry said science and production links have been strengthened, higher-yield local varieties have been adopted and modern agronomy has become more widespread. Water use in cotton farming has been cut by half versus the 1990s thanks to water-saving technologies, an important shift in a region where irrigation constraints remain a binding economic risk.

Mechanization has become another key factor. About 85% of this year’s crop was gathered within 30 to 35 days using more than 3,000 modern cotton pickers, with mechanized harvesting reaching 100% in Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions. Faster collection reduces losses, lowers labor costs and makes output more predictable for exporters and processors.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has already raised the bar for next year, with a target to lift average cotton yields to 65 to 70 centners per hectare. The government says it plans to lean further on high-yield seeds, agrodrones, water- and energy-saving technologies and artificial intelligence, signaling that Uzbekistan wants the record crop to mark a step change rather than a one-off rebound.