Chinese technology helps save water and boost cotton yields in Uzbekistan
Cooperation covers a wide range of areas, from drip irrigation to agricultural machinery assembly. In southern Uzbekistan, farmers have turned to Chinese drip irrigation technology to improve water efficiency in a region where every drop counts for water‑intensive cotton. "We expect to get up to nine tonnes of cotton per hectare. Our cotton is developing well. As you can see, about 50 per cent of the cotton has already opened. I have been working with this drip irrigation system for two years. The water savings from using this system are very significant," said Shodiyor Minurkulov, a cotton farmer.
Water mixed with fertilisers is delivered through drip lines directly to the plants, reducing water loss and allowing farmers to precisely control the amount of water and nutrients their cotton receives. Chinese technologies are also extending beyond the fields. In Qarshi, tractors, cotton harvesters and combines are lined up at a new assembly plant, which is expected to start production in two months. "Our company has had a strong presence in China for many years and is in high demand among a wide range of users. That is why we are offering our most advanced technologies to participate in Uzbekistan's agricultural modernisation programme. Our goal is to support the development of local agriculture with our latest technologies," said Wang Shijie, plant manager of FM World, a company specialising in agricultural machinery.
Uzbekistan is one of the world's largest cotton producers, and the crop remains an important export commodity. However, water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, requires a shift to more efficient irrigation methods. China, with decades of experience in drip irrigation and agricultural mechanisation, is actively sharing these technologies with its partners along the Silk Road. The cooperation covers not only equipment supply but also farmer training and the localisation of agricultural machinery production. The new plant in Qarshi will be an important step in deepening industrial cooperation, creating jobs and reducing dependence on imports.
As CCTV+ reports, China‑Uzbekistan agricultural cooperation demonstrates how modern technologies can address age‑old problems. Drip irrigation not only saves water but also boosts yields, making cotton farming more sustainable and profitable. In the coming years, further expansion of such projects is expected, which will strengthen food security and economic stability in Central Asia.
