DUSHANBE, July 11, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- This year, Tajikistan has planted cotton on an area of 242,566 hectares.

Cotton on the area of 229,773 hectares is growing well, while more than 11,000 hectares of cotton plantations have been affected by dry spring and shortage of water, Narzullo Dadaboyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), said. 

According to him, the worst hit areas are Zafarobod, Mastchoh and Jabborrasulov districts in northern Tajikistan.    

He added that this year’s cotton harvest depends on the third watering and additional fertilizing.  “In all, growth of cotton is satisfactory, and selected cotton picking will start on August 15-10,” the spokesman said.   

Last year, year Tajikistan yielded 419,597 tons of cotton from 254,279 hectares, which was 76.3 percent of the target determined at 550,000 tons of raw cotton.