KHUJAND, June 13, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Sughd farmers plan to produce some 17,500 tons of rice this year, according to the Sughd agriculture directorate.

Sughd province has increased areas under rice this year.  This year, local farmers plan to plant rice on 5,853 hectares of farmland; to this date, they have planted rice on 5,306 hectares.  Bobojonghafurov and Jabborrasulov districts have already completed the rice-sowing campaign.

The Zafarobod district intends to double rice fields this year.  Isfara farmers have also increased areas under rice, having planted rise on 211 hectares this year against the originally planned 110 hectares.

“Serious situation is currently in Spitamen district, where heavy rain have seriously affected farm work,” the source at the Sughd agriculture directorate said.

In 2008, the public sector of Sughd province produced 16,491 tons of rice.