DUSHANBE, July 8, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Grain-harvesting campaign is progressing in Tajikistan and 166,309 tons of cereals have been harvested form an area of 98,925 hectares in the country by July 8, which 72,113 tons more than in the same period of last year, Asia-Plus has learned at the crop department within the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). 

317 grain harvester combines are currently working in the fields, the source at a MoA said.    

This year, Tajik farmers have planted cereals on the area of 291,447 hectares.  Of them, 146,786 hectares have been sown with wheat.  Tajik farmers plan to produce some 700,000 tons of wheat this year.   

Last year, cereals were planted on the area of 273,403 hectares, and 931,204 tons of cereals, including 649,300 tons of wheat, were produced in 2007, the source said.