DUSHANBE, April 9, Asia-Plus -- Cotton-sowing campaign in Tajikistan is progressing. 

On April 8, cotton farmers in the Sughd province joined Khatlon in launching the cotton-sowing campaign, Deputy Agriculture and Environmental Protection Minister, Shukrullo Rahimnazarov, said. 

According to him, cotton-growing farms in Khatlon launched the cotton-sowing campaign at the end of March already. 

“In northern Tajikistan, cotton farmers have sown cotton on 1,800 hectares of land over the past two days,” said the deputy minister, “This year, the Sughd province is planned to have sown cotton on 76,500 hectares of lands.” 

In all, the republic has sown cotton on 29,000 hectares so far.  Cotton-growing farms will have sown cotton on 256,200 hectares this year.  

The Khatlon province is planned to sow cotton on 160,000 hectares.  “The Khatlon cotton farmers have to date sown cotton on more than 27,000 hectares of lands,” Rahimnazarov said, noting that districts subordinate to the center (RRPs) will start the cotton-sowing campaign this week. 

RRPs will have sown cotton on 19, 600 hectares of lands this year.

A national cotton target for this year has been set at 550,000 tons.  Last year, Tajik cotton farmers managed to yield 447,000 tons of raw cotton.