An important agricultural campaign—the cotton harvest—has begun in Turkmenistan. At the regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 28 August, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov approved 9 September as the start date of the “white harvest.” With the blessing of the Head of State, farmers in all the velayats of the country began harvesting cotton simultaneously on that day.

Opening the major harvesting campaign with “white caravans” is a long-standing tradition among Turkmen cotton growers, which has continued into the new historical era. Today, the main task facing farmers is to harvest the entire abundant crop of raw cotton from the fields on time and without losses and deliver it to the Motherland’s threshing floors.

Ourpeople have rich traditions of cultivating cotton, one of Turkmenistan’s most important agricultural crops. The production and processing of “white gold” are among the key areas of development of the national agro-industrial complex. In this regard, priority is given to strengthening the material and technical base of the cotton-growing sector, actively introducing advanced scientific developments and innovative technologies into practice, and providing economic incentives to agricultural producers.

Large-scale transformations being implemented in the agricultural sector under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov are aimed at addressing the objectives set in this field and at bringing the country’s agro-industrial complex, including cotton cultivation, to a qualitatively new level.

In particular, effective measures are being taken to improve farming practices, apply scientifically based methods of cultivating agricultural crops developed with due regard for the soil and climatic conditions of each region of the country, and improve the land reclamation and drainage conditions. At the same time, efforts in scientific breeding have been intensified, including the development of new regionally adapted cotton varieties distinguished by early maturity, high yields, and superior fibre quality.

As a significant component of Turkmenistan’s exports, cotton is also an important raw material for the country’s dynamically developing textile industry. Products manufactured by enterprises in the sector meet international standards and enjoy strong consumer demand both on the domestic market and abroad.

It should be noted that tenants and daikhan associations are provided, on preferential terms, with the necessary machinery, seeds, mineral fertilisers, irrigation water and other services. At the same time, the social and living conditions of rural residents are being systematically improved. The relevant objectives are set out in the “Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for the Socio-Economic Development of the Country for 2022–2028” and the National Program of the President of Turkmenistan for the Transformation of Social and Living Conditions of the Population of Villages, Towns, Etrap Cities and Etrap Centers for the Period up to 2028..

To ensure the uninterrupted operation of the cotton-harvesting campaign, round-the-clock technical and maintenance services for the machinery in use have been organised at the local level. Appropriate conditions have also been created to ensure productive work and proper rest for machine operators, drivers and women engaged in hand-picking cotton.

Cotton collection points and cotton ginning plants across the country have been prepared to receive the new harvest of “white gold.” At laboratories operating at these facilities, specialists from the State Service “Türkmenstandartlary” will ensure thorough quality control of the incoming cotton.

Following a cherished national tradition, and after offering prayers to the Almighty for the well-being and prosperity of the Motherland and the native people, who, under the leadership of the Head of State, are confidently advancing towards new labor achievements, respected elders gave the start to the harvesting campaign with the words, “Bismillah!”

On that day, the first caravans of trucks and tractors with trailers, loaded to the brim with “white gold,” arrived at the collection points and cotton-processing enterprises in the velayats.

As part of the celebrations marking the start of the cotton-harvesting campaign, exhibitions of agricultural machinery and products of the agricultural processing and textile industries were organised. Vocal, dance, and folklore groups from the velayats performed concert programmes. On behalf of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, valuable gifts were presented to outstanding producers—the best tenant cotton growers who had achieved excellent cotton harvests.