From Conventional Cotton Farming to Climate-Resilient Production Systems: Comparative Insights from Uzbekistan and a Transformation Framework for Pakistan

Abstract

,Cotton is a strategic fiber and cash crop that supports millions of livelihoods and contributes substantially to the economies of many developing countries. However, despite comparable agro-climatic conditions and sustained investments in cotton research, Pakistan has experienced stagnant or declining productivity under increasing climate variability, whereas Uzbekistan has achieved consistent gains through comprehensive agricultural transformation. This review critically examines the ecological, technological, and institutional pathways underpinning Uzbekistan's superior cotton productivity and identifies lessons applicable to Pakistan. A structured literature review was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, CAB Abstracts, and authoritative reports from FAO, ICAC, USDA, the World Bank, and national government agencies. Studies published between 2010 and 2026 were screened using predefined eligibility criteria, resulting in the synthesis of more than 100 high-quality publications and policy documents. The evidence indicates that Uzbekistan's productivity gains stem from coordinated improvements in water-use efficiency, conservation-oriented farming, climate-resilient cultivars, mechanization, digital agriculture, effective extension services, and institutional reforms, particularly the cotton-textile cluster system. In contrast, Pakistan continues to face inefficient resource use, weak seed and extension systems, fragmented policy implementation, slow technology adoption, and increasing climate vulnerability. Based on these comparative insights, this review proposes a Pakistan Cotton Transformation Package (PCTP) that integrates evidence-based ecological, technological, and institutional interventions to enhance productivity, climate resilience, resource-use efficiency, and long-term sustainability. The proposed framework offers researchers, policymakers, and development agencies a practical roadmap for accelerating sustainable cotton transformation in Pakistan and other climate-vulnerable cotton-producing regions.