KHUJAND, October 27, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The cotton-harvesting campaign is under way in northern Tajikistan and local farmers are taking real measures to gather cotton on time.

The Sughd province has yielded nearly 83,000 tons of raw cotton by October 27, which comprises 47.15 percent of this year’s target.  Sughd cotton farmers have pledged to produce 172,100 tons of cotton this year.

According to the Sughd agriculture directorate, 46,5000 people, including farmers and volunteers,  currently work in cotton fields in northern Tajikistan, which is  5,500 people fewer than last year.

On October 26, the province yielded 1,085 tons of cotton.

Konibodom now tops the Sughd province in cotton harvesting, having reached 58.9 percent of the target by October 27.  Konibodom’s target for this year is 17,500 tons of raw cotton.

The Asht and Mastchoh districts have reached 56.1 percent and 53.87 percent of their targets respectively by Monday.