State Order and Policy Strategies in the Cotton and Wheat Value Chains

Feminization, rural transformation, and wheat systems in post-soviet Uzbekistan

“…Independent Uzbekistan is largely dependent on agriculture which accounts for 25 percent of the GDP and employs 32 percent of the population. Cotton production is the country's most significant source of revenue, accounting for 50 percent of export earnings with up to 99 percent of earnings in some provinces ( Kandiyoti, 2003 ; Rudenko et al, 2012 ).…”

“…The state aimed to reduce wheat imports, sustain profits from cotton production, and employ its population through individually run farms and expanding the area of existing plots ( Kandiyoti, 2003 ). During this post-independence period, a Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers stipulated achieving self-sufficiency in wheat production ( Rudenko et al, 2012 ). Under this system, wheat production increased from 940,000 tonnes to 8 million tonnes in 2015 with yield also increasing from 26051 kg/ha in 2000–47821 kg/ha in 2014 ( World Grain, 2015 ).…”

“…The rationale for this consolidation was to increase efficiency and synchronize farming scale with the infrastructure inherited from the Soviet period ( Djanibekov et al, 2012 ). The procurement system for wheat and cotton persisted throughout this reform and since 2005 ( Rudenko et al, 2012 ). Many independent farmers lease their lands to multiple families to whom they pay a monthly salary, often to the head of the household ( Tursonova et al, 2012 ; Kandiyoti, 2003 ).…”

“…We focus on the role that contextual factors, particularly kinship relations, government goals, and institutional structures each contribute to rural transformation and how these, in turn, recast women's involvement in wheat production and processing, the single most important crop in the country occupying the largest area of production (FAO 2020). Much has been written about wheat production in Uzbekistan from a macroeconomic and technological perspective (e.g., Morgounov et al, 2001 ; IFPRI, 2010 ; Kienzler et al, 2011 ; Djanibekov et al, 2012 ; Rudenko et al, 2012 ; Sharma et al, 2013 ). However, exploring the gendered implications of wheat production on local livelihoods and well-being has garnered far less attention (see Kandiyoti, 2003 ; Gunchinmaa et al, 2011 ; Tursunova, 2012 ; 2013 as exceptions).…”

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Conservation Agriculture Implementation in Syrdarya Province of Uzbekistan

“…For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate conservation agriculture applied to agroecological conditions and cropping patterns of Uzbekistan (Kienzler et al, 2012). Since the state plays an important role in agriculture in Uzbekistan (Rudenko et al, 2012), it is necessary to provide evidence on economic feasibility of conservation agriculture to policymakers.…”