Agriculture in Karakalpakstan (1985–1991)

Abstract

This article analyzes the development characteristics, key sectors, and production indicators of agriculture in Karakalpakstan between 1985 and 1991, as well as the economic and environmental problems that emerged in the field. The study examines the role of Karakalpakstan's agriculture within the Soviet planned economic system during the Perestroika (restructuring) era, the significance of cotton and rice cultivation as leading sectors, the state of livestock farming, and issues regarding irrigation and land reclamation systems. It also addresses the impact of the Aral Sea ecological crisis on agricultural production. Based on a comparative analysis of statistical data, the study identifies changes in cotton production volumes and cultivated areas between 1985 and 1990, the rise in rice yields, and trends in the production of grain and other agricultural commodities. The research findings indicate that while agricultural production levels were maintained, problems such as water scarcity, soil salinization, deteriorating land reclamation conditions, and the ecological crisis intensified significantly.