KHUJAND, March 26, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The Konibodom district is the first in Sughd province to complete laying out new orchards and vineyards, according to the Sughd main agriculture directorate.

By March 17, new orchards and vineyards have been planted on an area of a total of 502 hectares in the district, which is two hectares more than it was originally planned, the source at the Sughd agriculture directorate said.

The Bobojonghafurov and Isfara districts have reached 80.5 and 85.3 percent of their orchard and vineyard planting targets respectively to this day.

In all, 5,440 hectares have been allocated to new orchards and vineyards in northern Tajikistan this year.  In 2009, Sughd farmers planted orchards on 1,248 hectares.