KHUJAND, July 11, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- This year, Sughd farmers have expanded areas under potatoes, however, potato prices are continuing to rise in the province.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the Sughd agriculture directorate head Bobojon Domulloyev said that at first, local farmers had been expected to plant potatoes on an area of 4,191 hectares but following good demand they had planted potatoes on 4,620 hectares.

According to him, the potato-harvesting campaign has already started in the region and they have yielded 2,541 tons of potatoes to this date.

“If everything goes as planned, Sughd farmers will have produced some 300,000 tons of potatoes this year,” the Agricultural directorate head said, noting that Sughd produced 262,207 tons of potatoes last year.

“As far as rising potato prices is concerned, the price of one kilogram of low-quality potato has increased by 30 dirams and the high-quality potato by 10 dirams by July 7,” Domulloyev said.   

            The main potato producers in northern Tajikistan are the districts of Ghonchi (1,756 hectares), Istaravshan (974 hectares), Kuhistoni Mastchoh (660 hectares), and Shahriston (517 hectares).