Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated the peasants and farmers who grew more than 5 million tons of cotton

Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated dehqons and farmers who grew more than 5 million tons of cotton

Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent a message of congratulations to dehqons and farmers, cluster workers, and representatives of the agricultural sector on the occasion of growing a cotton harvest of over 5 million tons for the first time in the history of New Uzbekistan.

The President specially emphasized that despite the difficulties associated with climate change this year, the cotton harvest was gathered before the onset of rainfall.

“I sincerely congratulate you, my dears, on achieving a record result by building a grand cotton heap of over 5 million tons for the first time in the history of New Uzbekistan. Of course, this historic victory, achieved through your selfless labor, courage, and fortitude, is a victory for our entire nation. This is a New Uzbekistan miracle in the cotton growing industry,” the congratulatory message reads.

The head of state recalled that during the former Soviet period, especially in the 1980s, nearly 2 million hectares of land were allocated for cotton cultivation in Uzbekistan, and the average yield did not exceed 30 centners.

In 2000, seeds were sown on 1.4 million hectares of land, and a total of 3 million tons of cotton were grown. In subsequent years, the areas allocated for planting cotton were reduced by 38 percent. At the same time, it was noted that an end was put to the involvement of teachers, students, schoolchildren, and employees of budget organizations in field work.

“The fact that yield in cotton growing has increased by 2.7 times over the past period, reaching from 21 centners to 56 centners, shows what a great path of growth we have covered in this regard,” the president said.

It was also announced that due to the introduction of water-saving technologies, water consumption decreased by half compared to the 1990s. This year, an average yield of 70 centners was obtained on nearly 400 thousand hectares, and up to 100–110 centners on almost 70 thousand hectares.

Nearly one thousand farms and clusters achieved an average yield of 100 centners per hectare or higher. More than four thousand farmers increased yields from 60–70 centners, and 2.5 thousand of them exceeded 80 centners. In particular, Anorboy Eshmatov in the Pakhtakor district and Ulugbek Sopiyev in the Jarkurgan district grew 110 centners of cotton per hectare.

By region, the average yield exceeded 60 centners in Jizzakh, Khorezm, Bukhara, Navoi, and Syrdarya regions. In Karakalpakstan, the yield increased by 10–15 centners compared to previous years, and more than 400 thousand tons of cotton were grown. Koson was the district that grew the most cotton, where a harvest of 110 thousand tons was gathered. 105 thousand tons of cotton were gathered in Mirishkor, 95 thousand in Kasbi, and 90 thousand tons in Nishon.

The President stated that 85 percent of this year's harvest was gathered within 30–35 days with the help of more than 3 thousand cotton harvesting machines. The level of mechanization of cotton picking in Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions reached 100 percent. It was also noted that expenses were reduced by half through digitalization in cotton growing, the use of drones, and the application of new technologies.

“This year, our farmers are expected to receive a net profit of 13–14 trillion sum from cotton. On this basis, it is natural that they will earn a decent income in return for their hard work throughout the year, and the lives of our people will become even more prosperous and well-off,” the congratulatory message says.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that next year it is planned to expand opportunities for using high-yielding seed varieties, agrodrones, water and energy-saving technologies, and artificial intelligence.

Through these measures, the goal is to bring the average yield in cotton growing to 65–70 centners per hectare. The President stressed that in implementing the strategic path in agriculture, reliance will primarily be placed on more than 3.5 million workers operating in the agro-sector.