KHUJAND, July 21, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Sughd farmers do not want to bargain away their products to the processing enterprises.

Muydin Kholiqov, deputy head of the Sughd food industry department, says 13 preserving plants operating in the province have concluded contracts with local farming units on delivery of more than 5,200 tons of apricots and peaches.

“To-date, the plants have received only 1,300 tons,” said Kholiqov, “Moreover, fruit and vegetable exports from Sughd province have decreased this year as well.”

Current price of one kilogram of apricots at Khujand’s Panjshanbe bazaar is 2.00 somoni and peaches are sold here for 7.00 somoni per kilogram, while the preserving plants offer farmers for their fruit products only 60 to 80 diram per kilogram.

According to the statistical data from the Sughd customs department, sealed fruit and vegetable jars for 602,000 U.S. dollars have been over the first five months of this year, which is US$943 fewer than in the same period last year.