KULOB, July 2, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Some 26,500 hectares of cotton fields in Khatlon’s Kulob region have been affected by pests, according to the Kulob agriculture directorate.   

Specialists have revealed three types of pests so far - plant louse, cotton cutworm, and arachnoidal tick

The worst hit areas are the Hamadoni, Farkhor and Kulob districts,  were some 14,000 hectares, some 9,000 hectares and 3,200 hectares of cotton fields have been affect by pests respectively.

Cotton farmers are taking measures to kill the pests.  A special republican commission for combating pests has been set up in the Hamadoni districts.