DUSHANBE, November 29, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Rise in the water level in the Syr Darya River has seriously affected rice harvest in the northern Sughd province.

The most serious situation is reported in the Bobojonghafurov district, where the rice fields have been submerged under water.  Rice growers are currently seeking help with rice harvest.

One of farmers, who wanted to remain unnamed, said he had leased one hectare of farmland for rice growing.  “In some areas, the rice fields have turned into bogs,” said he.  “I have managed to save only half the harvest.”

According to him, electricity shortages have aggravated the problems facing the rice growers in northern Tajikistan.  “Because of lack of electricity we cannot turn on the pumps in order to evacuate water from the fields,” the farmer said.

Another farmer, Usmonjon Sharipov, who has leased two hectares for rice growing, says he has lost his entire harvest.

Local farmers do not hope to gather the entire harvest because there is no electricity to introduce the pump stations into operation.

Rice is grown in river valleys, where paddies can be easily created by flooding and Sughd province is the main rice producer in Tajikistan.