DUSHANBE, June 12, Asia-Plus -- Locust infestations may affect the 2007 cotton target, Saidmurod Bahriddinov, the head of the industrial crops department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection (MoAEP), said.

According to him, hundreds hectares of farmland in Khatlon (Qumsangir, Khuroson and Qubodiyon districts) and Sughd (Zafarobod, Ghonchi, Mastchoh and Bobojonghafurov districts) province have been affected by locusts.  

He added that a special commission has been working to assess an actual volume of damage caused by locust infestations to the agrarian sector.   

“The national target for this year has been determined at 550,000 tons of cotton,” said the MoAEP official, “However, there is doubt that farmers will be able to fulfill this target.”  “There ought to take into consideration that cotton farmers in some districts had to re-sow cotton following heavy rainfalls and mudslides in early spring.” 

According to the MoAEP, Tajikistan has sown cotton on 256,200 hectares this year.  Southern Khatlon province has sown cotton on 160,000 hectares, Sughd province – 76,500 hectares and districts subordinate to the center – 19,600 hectares.