QURGHON TEPPA, September 4, Asia-Plus  -- By September 1, cotton farms in Khatlon have yielded 30,241 tons of cotton, which 3,621 tons more compared to the same period of 2005, the Khatlon governor Amirsho Miraliyev announced at a meeting in Qurghon Teppa on September 1.  

The province governor demanded t the meeting that banks and investors should timely provide cotton farmers with fuels and funds during the cotton-picking campaign.  

Miraliyev also noted that one of reasons for delays in fulfillment of the target is improper activity of heads of cotton-growing districts.  

“Heads of districts, which will fail to fulfill their cotton targets by October 20, will be dismissed,” Amirsho Miraliyev said, noting that the province has all opportunities and potentials this year to fulfill the target.  “The cotton farms should just recruit more manpower for gathering the cotton harvest.” 

In the meantime, local experts say that if cotton farmers receive their wages timely they will be interested and not need additional manpower.  There are cotton-growing farms in the province, in which cotton-pickers have not yet received wages for their work.  

Cotton growers in Khatlon have pledged to produce 329,000 tons of cotton this year, while the national target has been determined at 550,000 tons.