DUSHANBE, April 6, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Farmers in the northern province of Sughd have started a cotton-sowing campaign.

Over the past three days, the Sughd farmers have planted cotton on an area of 8,000 hectares, according to the crops sector department within the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).  This year, 65,200 hectares of farmland in northern Tajikistan have been allotted for growing cotton.  There are 10 cotton-growing districts in the province.

In all, 200,700 hectares of farmland in the country have been allotted for cotton growing this year.  The country’s farmers have planted cotton on more than 41 hectares to this date.

The southern Khatlon province has planted cotton on an area of 33,240 hectares so far.  The Khatlon farmers are expected to plant cotton on 124,400 hectares this year.

In the meantime, the cotton-growing districts subordinate to the center have not yet launched the cotton-sowing campaign.  This year, they plan to plant cotton on 11,000 hectares, the source said.