DUSHANBE, April 29, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik farmers have planted cotton on 228,705 hectares of land by April 28, which is 90 percent of the target, Asia-Plus has learned from Saidmurod Bahriddinov, the head of the plant cultivation directorate within the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

In all, 253,752 hectares of land are expected to be sown with cotton this year, according to him.  The cotton-sowing campaign is expected to be finished before May 10.

The northern Sughd province has planted cotton on 72,637 hectares so far, which is 94 percent of target determined at 76,570 hectares.  

The Khatlon province has planted cotton on 142,181 hectares by April 28, which is 88.95 percent of the target.  This year, farmers in Khatlon will plant cotton on 160,000 hectares. 

Districts subordinate to the center (RRPs) allotted 17,182 hectares to cotton.  They have planted cotton on 13,887 hectares so far, which is 80.8 percent of the target.