QURGHON TEPPA, March 25, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Some districts in Khatlon province, located in Vakhsh Valley, have already launched a cotton-sowing campaign, the Sughd administration press service said.

By March 20, cotton producing farms in Shahritus, Qubodiyon, Rumi, Jilikul and some other districts have reportedly planted cotton on an area of more than 260 hectares.

According to the Khatlon agriculture directorate, local authorities abandoned the practice of forcing unproductive farms to grow cotton in order to fulfill the cotton target.

“Farmers themselves now may study the market and make the change from cotton to other crops more suitable to their circumstances,” the source said, noting that hothouse market-gardening has actively developed in the area this year.

To-date, more than 1,100 hectares have been allotted in the province to hothouse market-gardening (mainly for production of tomatoes and cucumbers), he added.