KHUJAND, September 18, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The cotton-growing farms in Sughd’s Zafarobod district will hardly manage to harvest cotton without voluntary helpers, the Sughd Trade Unions’ Federation head Saidboy Zokirov, who is in charge of cotton-harvesting campaign in this district, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.  

“Because of bad weather conditions, the cotton farmers have been forced to re-sow cotton on the area of 3,000 hectares,” said Zokirov, “Farmers currently yield 200-250 tons of cotton per day, which is only 0.7-0.8 percent of the target.  Therefore, they will probably need help.”  According to him, some 11,000 voluntary helpers are needed to harvest cotton in Zafarobod.  

“Some enterprises and organizations have already concluded contracts with the cotton-growing farms in the district,” Zokirov said, noting that farming units now pay to cotton-pickers 15 to 20 dirams per one kilogram.  

The Zafarobod district plans to yield 18,000 tons cotton this year.