History Cotton production in Uzbekistan

a patriot volunteering harvest cotton

cotton grown on uzbekistan land recorded 2000 years ago chinese. production of cotton dramatically increased under soviet russian , uzbek ssr, uzbek ssr accounting 70% of soviet production. government strictly controlled industry , introduced quotas ensure efficient production @ collective farms (kolkhozes). between 1976 , 1983, country s leadership defrauded soviet central bank falsely inflating uzbek cotton harvest yields, characterizing cotton scandal notorious scandal during tenure of sharof rashidov; resulted in discrediting political elite of uzbekistan. since independence, soviet-style quotas have remained intact , uzbek government still dominate national industry.

because of risks associated one-crop economy considerations of food security population, uzbekistan has been moving diversify production cereals, while reducing cotton production. thus, area sown cotton reduced 1.8 million hectares in 1990 1.4 million hectares in 2006, while area under cereals increased 1.0 million 1.6 million hectares (in part @ expense of areas allocated feed crops). cause behind moves diversify may environmental, because large quantities of irrigation , fertilization needed produce cotton have contributed drying of aral sea , severe pollution of soil in surrounding areas.