Uzbekistan Increases Cotton Harvest Payments to Boost Workforce
Uzbekistan Raises Payment for Manually Harvested Cotton to Address Labor Shortage
In response to challenges in recruiting workers for the cotton harvest season, Uzbekistan has announced an increase in the payment for manually harvested cotton. As of October 9, the price for manually harvested cotton across all regions has been set at 2,500 UZS per kilogram, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Previously, commercial banks provided only 1,500 UZS per kilogram of cotton to harvesters through loans, which made it difficult to attract enough seasonal workers. The Ministry recognized that this low payment rate was hindering the mobilization of labor for the harvest season.
To tackle this issue and provide stronger financial incentives for harvesters, the price has been raised to 2,500 UZS per kilogram. Of this amount, 2,000 UZS will be sourced from the government’s agricultural support fund, while the remaining 500 UZS will be provided by cotton clusters.
This increase in payment aims to address the labor shortage and ensure that there are enough workers to harvest cotton across the country. By offering a more attractive wage, Uzbekistan hopes to overcome the challenges faced in recruiting workers for the agricultural sector.
