Central Asian Countries Enter Picking Season, Epidemic Situation Affects Cotton Products Export

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Uzbekistan is the largest cotton growing country in Central Asia. In the country's three major cotton producing areas, including the silhe Prefecture, nearly 80000 people will participate in cotton picking during the cotton picking season. A few days ago, the Ministry of employment and labor relations of Uzbekistan announced that the minimum wage standard for manual cotton picking is 1000 sums per kilogram (about RMB 0.67 yuan). Generally speaking, cotton pickers can earn between 100000 and 120000 sumes per day (about RMB 67-80).

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The announcement of the Ministry of employment and the Ministry of labor relations of Uzbekistan also requires that all localities must protect the rights and interests of cotton pickers, avoid the use of forced labor, and shall not requisition personnel from education, medical and other financial and budgetary departments to participate in cotton picking activities.

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According to Uzbek media reports, Uzbekistan was the main cotton producing area in the Soviet Union, with an annual seed cotton output of about 6 million tons. After independence, the output remained at about 4 million tons, and the export volume of cotton and cotton products accounted for 30% of the total export volume of Uzbekistan. Cotton is known as "Platinum" in the country.

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In Turkmenistan, another major cotton producing country in Central Asia, the nationwide unified cotton harvesting work officially started on September 10, with about 10000 machines and vehicles of various types harvesting nearly 10 kinds of cotton. It is estimated that this year's seed cotton production will reach 1.25 million tons. Elders from the main cotton producing areas attended the opening ceremony of picking operations.

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Tajikistan, also located in Central Asia, is expected to produce 420000 tons of seed cotton this year, an increase of 5% over last year, Interfax reported. In the first half of 2020, the export volume of cotton products in Tajikistan is 46 million US dollars.

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Russian satellite news network analysis said that affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, international cotton prices fell. This will affect the export of cotton producing countries in Central Asia. While maintaining the current production, all countries should strengthen the cotton processing capacity and increase the added value of export products as soon as possible.

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