DUSHANBE, November 2, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The country’s cotton growers have yielded some 409,000 tons of cotton by November 2, which is 4.0 percent more than it was originally planned, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).  We will recall that this year’s national cotton target has been determined at 390,000 tons of cotton.

The source at a MoA says cotton growers now gather more than 430 tons of cotton per day, which is 0.1 percent of the national target.

According to him, cotton producing districts in the southern Khatlon province have fulfilled their target and are continuing to gather cotton in addition to their obligation.  Cotton growers in Khatlon have yielded some 270,000 tons of cotton by November 2, which is 3.6 percent more than it was originally planned.

Cotton growers in the northern Sughd province overfulfilled their target by 7.4 percent, having yielded 113,000 tons of raw cotton to date.

Districts subordinate to the center have yielded nearly 26,000 tons of cotton by November 2, which is 5.5 percent more than their target for this year.

Last year, Tajikistan yielded 310,513 tons of raw cotton from 160,400 hectares, which was 10,500 tons more than it was originally planned and 3.2 percent (13,500 tons) more than in 2009.

Cotton makes an important contribution to both the agricultural sector and the national economy.  Cotton accounts for 60 percent of agricultural output, supports 75 percent of the rural population, and uses 45 percent of irrigated arable land.  At the national level, it is an important source of both export earnings and tax revenue.  Cotton fiber accounts for some 15 percent of Tajikistan’s exports.  Tajikistan is reportedly the world’s fourth largest exporter of cotton, and there is strong demand on international markets for its high quality product.