Fairtrade Cotton Farmers from Tajikistan Study Modern Seed Breeding and Cultivation Technologies in Andijan, Uzbekistan
Twelve farmers and cooperative representatives from two Fairtrade certified cotton Small Producer Organizations in Tajikistan, Biokishovarz and Green Agriculture, travelled to Andijan, Uzbekistan, from 24 to 26 July 2026 for a three-day exchange visit organized by Fairtrade NAPP. The visit centered on the Andijan Scientific Institute of Seed Breeding and on nearby farms working with improved cotton varieties, higher planting density, drip irrigation and other resource-efficient technologies.
Crossing the Border for a Closer Look at Modern Cotton Farming
How to grow more cotton from the same land, using less water, is a question farmers in Tajikistan work on every season. In late July 2026, twelve members and representatives of two Fairtrade certified cotton cooperatives, Biokishovarz and Green Agriculture, went to look for answers close to home. Over three days in Andijan, Uzbekistan, they walked through working cotton farms, seed breeding plots and horticulture institutes, and sat down with the researchers who develop the varieties planted there.
The exchange visit organised by the Fairtrade NAPP comprised of ten men and two women, drawn from the two cooperatives and accompanied by Fairtrade NAPP staff. The visit answered an interest the cooperatives themselves had raised: to see modern cotton seed breeding and multiplication systems in daily operation, under soil and climate conditions close to their own, and to judge for themselves what could work on their farms.
Nearly Twice the Cotton from the Same Hectare
The most measurable takeaway came on 25 July, at a modern cotton farm where participants saw the 76 cm planting system in use. The system accommodates at least 220,000 cotton plants per hectare, compared with roughly 100,000 plants per hectare under the 60 cm row spacing widely used in Tajikistan, and the farm's results showed close to double the cotton yield. Farmers were able to walk the rows, count plant populations and question the farm's managers directly. They returned with a specific, testable practice and the figures behind it, rather than a general recommendation.
Every Drop Put to Work
Water shapes every cotton season in Central Asia. At a modern cotton cluster, participants examined drip irrigation systems and other resource-efficient technologies in everyday use, looking at how the lines are laid out, how the systems are maintained and how they lower production costs by reducing water use and labour. Several participants had heard drip irrigation discussed but had not seen it running at scale on cotton. Seeing it operating gave them the practical detail they need to explain the system, and its costs, to fellow members at home.
“This study visit opened my eyes to modern cotton farming. I was impressed by the improved seed varieties, higher planting density, drip irrigation, and other innovative technologies that significantly increase productivity. I am motivated to apply these practices on my farm and share what I learned with other Fairtrade farmers in my community.”
- Jurabek Mirzoev, Member, Non-Commercial Cooperative Biokishovarz, Tajikistan
Better Seed, Better Start
At the Andijan Scientific Institute of Seed Breeding, researchers took the group through the Institute's cotton breeding programmes, demonstration plots, newly developed seed varieties and current research on modern production technologies. A visit to the Scientific Horticulture Institute added modern seedling production and multiplication technologies, where a scientist demonstrated seed breeding work step by step. Participants came away with a clearer sense of what separates an improved variety from a standard one and what to ask for when their cooperatives source seed, a decision that sets the ceiling for the whole season.
“Visiting the Andijan Scientific Institute and the demonstration farms gave me practical knowledge. The modern planting methods, plastic mulch technology, and efficient irrigation systems showed us how cotton can be produced more sustainably while achieving much higher yields. I hope we can introduce these technologies on our farms in Tajikistan.”
- Aslonjon Mukhtorov, Member, Non-Commercial Cooperative Green Agriculture, Tajikistan
Small Technologies That Change a Season
Not every gain observed during the visit calls for major investment. Plastic mulch covering, seen on the demonstration farms, improves seed germination, holds soil moisture, suppresses weeds and supports early crop development. Drone sprayers, also demonstrated during the visit, allow precise application of crop protection products and fertilisers with far less labour. Participants singled out these lower-cost, faster-to-adopt technologies as the most realistic ones to pilot first, ahead of larger changes to planting systems and irrigation.
A Direct Line to the Researchers Behind the Varieties
The visit closed with a presentation by Mr Ilhom Abdurakhmonov, Director of the Andijan Scientific Institute of Seed Breeding, who shared the Institute's achievements, current research initiatives and future development plans, followed by an open exchange of experiences with the participants. Beyond the technical content, this session opened a professional connection between two Fairtrade cotton cooperatives in Tajikistan and one of the region's leading cotton research institutions, a relationship both sides agreed to continue. Participants also committed to running knowledge-sharing sessions and demonstrations for fellow members after their return, so that what twelve people observed becomes something the wider membership can act on.
Taking the Technologies Home to Tajikistan
Technologies that perform well in Andijan still need to prove themselves under Tajikistan's own soil and climate conditions, and the cooperatives are approaching this step by step. The first move is a demonstration plot on a Fairtrade farmer's land in Tajikistan, where the 76 cm row spacing, higher planting density and improved cotton seed varieties can be tested and measured locally. Plastic mulch covering, drip irrigation and drone-based spraying will be introduced and assessed alongside it.
Fairtrade NAPP and the two cooperatives will support the plot with technical guidance and resources, and will explore continued technical cooperation with the Andijan Scientific Institute of Seed Breeding on improved varieties and modern cultivation practices. Once results are in, knowledge-sharing sessions and field days at the demonstration plot will open the findings to cotton farmers across both organisations, so that decisions on wider adoption rest on what farmers in Tajikistan have seen work on their own land.
