The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, inspected the application of cotton cultivation technology from Xinjiang on fields operated by the 'Kashkadaryo Jinggu' company in the Guzar district of the Kashkadarya region.
This technology is being applied across an area of 2200 hectares and combines plastic film mulching with drip irrigation. This allows for water and fertilizer savings while also accelerating crop maturation.
Cotton seeds are sown in alternating rows under plastic film, with all irrigation provided through a drip system. The film helps retain heat and moisture in the soil, which stimulates early and uniform germination. Water and fertilizers are delivered directly to the plant roots.
According to the data presented, implementing this technology reduces water consumption by 30–40% and fertilizer use by almost 30%. Furthermore, the cotton ripens 10–15 days earlier than with traditional cultivation methods.
During his visit, Mirziyoyev checked the plantings and the organization of field work. With traditional farming, the yield is 30–35 centners of cotton per hectare, whereas using the Xinjiang technology makes it possible to achieve a yield of 60–70 centners per hectare. At the 'Kashkadaryo Jinggu' enterprise, the current yield reaches 55 centners per hectare, and the total production volume is 12,300 tons.
The enterprise also uses agricultural drones for field operations. Their application helps speed up certain agricultural processes and reduce fuel consumption.
'Kashkadaryo Jinggu' is an agricultural cluster established with Chinese investment. Its activities cover 18,300 hectares in the districts of Kasansay, Nishan, Guzar, Kukdala, and Mirishkor. A significant portion of this land was previously undeveloped desert areas and abandoned fields.
The project attracted investments of 128 million US dollars and provided employment for 50 people. The company's product exports are valued at 8.5 million US dollars.
During the visit, the president also received a report on agricultural activities in the Kashkadarya region.