Uzbekistan’s Tashkent — To increase the production of more sustainable cotton throughout the nation and its Better Cotton Program, Better Cotton has inked a strategic roadmap with Uzbek agriculture and textile sector authorities.
After the International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded that Uzbekistan has effectively eradicated systemic child labor and forced labor in its cotton industry, Better Cotton was introduced in the country in December 2022.
By utilizing the network and resources of partners to expedite farmer enrollment, enhance and broaden field-level support, and boost investment opportunities through grants and government subsidies, the plan will significantly improve the Better Cotton Uzbekistan Program.
There are three main goals for it:
- Establish management, financial, and implementation roles and align a strategic partnership model.
- Assure efficient collaboration with stakeholders and program partners to advance sustainable cotton farming methods.
- Create and carry out a coordinated series of actions to remove scale-related obstacles.
With 3% of global cotton production in the 2023–2024 cycle, Uzbekistan ranks seventh in terms of production. Cotton clusters, which are vertically integrated businesses that grow, harvest, and process cotton, are what make the nation special.
Training the Ministry of Agriculture and Uztekstilprom to provide them with the skills and tools needed to join Better Cotton as partners and spearhead interactions with cotton farming communities will be a top focus.
In order to show the advantages of processing Physical Better Cotton—that is, Better Cotton that has been tracked through the supply chain—Better Cotton will also collaborate with its partners to improve the flow of assessment data, strengthen assurance activities, lessen audit fatigue, and engage supply chain actors.
