DUSHANBE, March 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan has decided to increase areas under early agricultural crops this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

The head of the MoA crop sector department Saidmurod Bahriddinov said farmers intended to plant early vegetables on 6,050 hectares and early potatoes on 3,250 hectares this year.  According to him, they have planted early vegetables on 5,734 hectares and early potatoes on 1,492 hectares so far.

“Khatlon farmers have planted early agricultural crops on more than 3,500 hectares to this date, Sughd farmers have planted early agricultural crops on 1,218 hectares so far and farming units in districts subordinate to the center (RRPs) have planted early agricultural crops on 900 hectares,” Bahriddinov said.