Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Liu Yi) news: On December 30, 2025, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region that in 2025, the total cotton output in Xinjiang reached 6.17 million tons, an increase of 479,000 tons compared with the previous year, breaking through the 6-million-ton mark for the first time, accounting for 92.8 percent of the national output. The total output and per-unit yield have ranked first in the country for 32 consecutive years.

Photo taken on September 17, 2025 shows a cotton harvester picks cotton in the fields of Daheyanzi Town, Jinghe County, Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo provided by the Media Convergence Center of Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture)

In 2025, during the cotton production season in Xinjiang, the temperature was relatively high, with abundant sunlight and heat. The overall meteorological conditions were favorable, and the development process of most cotton was advanced, especially during the flowering period. The weather in Xinjiang was mainly sunny, which was conducive to the opening and harvesting of cotton. In addition, the widespread application of measures such as variety optimization and refined field management has effectively increased the per-unit yield of cotton in Xinjiang. Data shows that this year, the cotton yield per mu in Xinjiang reached 158.6 kilograms, an increase of 3.7 kilograms per mu compared with last year, representing a growth of 2.4 percent.

Since the beginning of this year, agricultural science and technology personnel have continuously strengthened the technological innovation efforts in cotton cultivation. Relying on big data and artificial intelligence technologies, they have piloted the creation of "smart cotton fields" to carry out precise management of cotton growth monitoring, water and fertilizer diagnosis, and pest and disease control, and promote cotton production to achieve cost reduction and efficiency increase.

At present, intelligent technical equipment with high degree of automation in navigation precision seeding, integrated water and fertilizer drip irrigation, and unmanned aerial vehicle plant protection, and strong precision operation capability has been widely used in cotton production in Xinjiang. It is expected that the comprehensive mechanization level of cotton planting and harvesting will remain above 97 percent, and the comprehensive cotton production capacity will be further improved.

(A written permission shall be obtained for reprinting, excerpting, copying and mirroring of the contents published on this website. Unauthorized aforementioned act shall be deemed an infringement, of which the actor shall be held accountable under the law.)