KHUJAND, May 29, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Sughd farmers hope to have good potatoes and onions harvests this year, Rustamjon Rahimov, the deputy head of the Sughd agriculture directorate, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, areas under onions have been increased by 428 hectares this year.  “By May 25, farmers have planted onions on 3,016 hectares and they have to plant onions on another 100 hectares,” Rahimov said.  Specialists from the agriculture directorate expect farmers to yield 61,000 tons of onions this year, which is 3,000 tons more than last year.

As far as the potatoes harvest is concerned, 2,385 hectares of lands have been allotted in the province this year for growing potatoes.  Sughd farmers are expected to produce 112,000 tons of potatoes this year, which is nearly 11,000 tons more than last year, Rahimov said.