DUSHANBE, February 18, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Farmers in the southern Khatlon province as well as Tursunzoda, Hisor, Shahrinav and Roudaki districts have already begun the spring grain sowing campaign and grains have been planted on 21,600 hectares so far, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).  The Sughd farmers are still making preparations for the spring sowing campaign

This year, Tajikistan intends to plant grains on 134,000 hectares, with 90 percent of them being irrigated lands, which is 13,500 hectares more than in 2008.

The source at a MoA said that winter crops had been planted on nearly 216,000 hectares, which is the highest rate in recent years, the source said.  However, only 8,500 hectares, or 3.9 percent, of areas under winter corps have been fertilized so far.