DUSHANBE, February 21, Asia-Plus - By February 19, farmers in Tajikistan have ploughed up 66.2 percent of areas provided for cotton growing, Asia-Plus has learned from Saidmurod Bahriddinov, head of the industrial crops department of the Ministry of Agriculture.  

According to him, farmers in Sughd province have ploughed up 77.5 percent of such areas so far, farmers in Khatlon province have ploughed up 56 percent and farmers in the districts subordinate to the center have fulfilled their target on ploughing up the areas under cotton and ploughed up even more (101.8 percent).  

Asked about reasons for delays in ploughing up the areas under cotton, the Asia-Plus interlocutor noted, “Everything is connected with agricultural machines and fuel supplies while various regions have been provided with agricultural machines and fuels unequally.”