AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY IN THE FERGANA VALLEY IN THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

This article explores the transformation of the agricultural economy in the Fergana Valley during the late 19th and early 20th centuries under Russian imperial rule. Using the scientifical methods, it analyzes changes in cropping patterns, irrigation infrastructure, land tenure systems, and population dynamics. Drawing on archival data, Tsarist-era statistical records, and modern historical scholarship, the study demonstrates how the introduction of American cotton varieties, expansion of irrigation, and colonial policies led to a shift toward a cotton-dominated cash-crop economy. The article also examines the socio-economic consequences of these changes, including rising peasant indebtedness, demographic shifts, and the partial integration of Fergana’s rural population into imperial market systems. Despite infrastructural improvements and increased yields, the research reveals that colonial agricultural policy often failed to provide long-term sustainability for local farmers. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of the colonial legacy in Central Asian agrarian development and its enduring impact on regional agricultural practices.