Shavkat Mirziyoyev: “We were indeed all slaves to cotton”
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has stated that a historical lack of political will previously forced the entire population into cotton slavery. Speaking at the launch of new projects ahead of Independence Day, he highlighted how the country was once consumed entirely by the relentless cycle of ploughing and harvesting the crop.
«But everyone has already forgotten about that slavery. Due to a lack of political will, we were indeed all slaves to cotton. We spent 24 hours a day, 12 months a year, ploughing, topping, defoliating, and harvesting. We did nothing else,» said the president.
Syrdarya Governor Erkinjon Turdimov, who attended the ceremony, credited the president’s reforms with eradicating child labour in the cotton fields. He noted that his region has successfully transitioned from an agricultural hub to an industrial centre and is expected to attract $2bn in economic investments this year.
This is not the first time Mirziyoyev has condemned Uzbekistan’s former agricultural system. During a meeting with Syrdarya farmers last year, he declared that 27 years of citizens’ lives had been wasted on cotton, criticising the prolonged cultivation of the crop without scientific methods or modern expertise.
International recognition
International monitors have recognised the country’s recent agricultural reforms. Last year, Better Cotton reported significant progress in its industry development programme across Uzbekistan. The organisation enhanced its oversight of farming clusters by involving civil society representatives and independent auditors.
Katerina Gorbunova, head of the Better Cotton programme in Uzbekistan, said the group partnered with the German Agency for International Cooperation to strengthen its framework and accelerate sector-wide changes. Launched in 2022, the initiative enforces strict standards regarding environmental protection, human rights and labour guarantees.
