KHUJAND, September 18, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- One of teams from the Enajon Boymatova Farm in the Konibodom district, Sughd province has announced the fulfillment of its cotton target.

According to the Sughd regional administration press center, the team members have yielded 191 tons of raw cotton by September 18 and are continuing to gather cotton in addition to their target.  They have pledged to gather additional 35 tons of raw cotton, the source noted.

The Sughd agriculture directorate says local farmers have yielded 23,768 tons of raw cotton so far, which is 21.13 percent of the target, which has been determined at 112,500 tons of aw cotton.

This year, Sughd farmers have reportedly planted cotton on 61,172 hectares.  

Cotton makes an important contribution to both the agricultural sector and the national economy.  Cotton accounts for 60 percent of agricultural output, supports 75 percent of the rural population, and uses 45 percent of irrigated arable land.  At the national level, it is an important source of both export earnings and tax revenue.  Tajikistan is the world’s fourth largest exporter of cotton, and there is strong demand on international markets for its high quality product.