Ministry of agriculture responds to allegations of pressure on farmers in Uzbekistan

Recent social media reports have raised concerns about farmers in Uzbekistan being pressured to accept lower prices for cotton and the potential transfer of some cluster-related costs to taxpayers. The Ministry of Agriculture (MA) has clarified the situation.

The controversy began with an audio recording featuring Rahmatullo Gaffarov, head of the Department of Agriculture in the Kashkadarya region, instructing district officials to gather farmers and have them sign a form to lower cotton prices.

The recording implied that contracts initially signed for 8-9 million soums per ton of cotton would be renegotiated for a lower price. Gaffarov’s comments sparked outrage, with many farmers accusing authorities of forcing them into unfavorable contracts.

In response, the Ministry acknowledged that Gaffarov made a mistake in delivering his message, and clarified that no directive had been issued to regional administrations to cancel contracts between farmers and cotton clusters. The Ministry emphasized that no administrative order exists to reduce cotton prices or alter contracts between farmers and clusters.

The statement pointed to Decree No. 574, which allows for financial support to cotton producers. Under this decree, farmers are entitled to a 1 million soum subsidy per ton of raw cotton sold via stock trading through the State Support Fund for Agriculture. This is intended to ensure that farmers are not financially disadvantaged when selling cotton to clusters.

The Ministry reiterated that the subsidy is designed to help farmers cover costs without suffering losses.

"The Ministry also expressed willingness to address any misunderstandings or concerns raised by farmers. It assured that problematic issues—such as disagreements over contract terms, price expectations, or storage of cotton—can be resolved through mutual agreement between farmers and clusters. The goal is to ensure transparency and timely storage of harvested cotton through the appropriate platforms. The Ministry urged social media users to accurately interpret the situation and understand the measures being taken to support cotton farmers in Uzbekistan," the ministry report states.