KHUJAND, April 24, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Recent torrential rain has seriously affected the cotton sowing campaign in the majority of cotton-growing districts in the Sughd province, the head of the Sughd agriculture directorate Bobojon Domulloyev said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, 2,700 hectares of cotton fields have been hit by torrential rain.  “The worst hit districts are Zafarobod and Konibodom, where low temperatures and torrential rain have affected 800 and 500 hectares of cotton fields respectively,” said Domulloyev, “In some districts, farmers have been forced to suspend the cotton sowing campaign.”

Bad weather conditions have also affected 60 hectares of areas under tomatoes, apricot orchards and some 30 hectares of vineyards in the Isfara district, he said.