China expands cotton farming technology into Central Asia

Chinese agricultural expertise and technology are being implemented in Central Asia, specifically through a demonstration field near Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The project, a joint operation between the Xinjiang Huaxing Investment Group and the Institute of Western Agriculture under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, aims to introduce advanced cotton-growing management practices to the region.

The initiative utilizes techniques widely used in China’s Xinjiang region, including drip irrigation under plastic film, denser planting to optimize sunlight, and mechanized harvesting. Researchers have provided technical standards, variety selection, and remote guidance to ensure high-quality yields.

In Xinjiang, which produced 6.17 million metric tons of cotton in 2025, mechanization rates for cultivation and harvesting exceed 97 percent. Smart farming technologies, such as weather stations and soil-moisture sensors, have demonstrated the ability to save over 10 percent of water and nearly 20 percent of fertilizer while increasing yields by more than 10 percent.