DUSHANBE, July 9, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Average potato yields in Tajikistan increased from 12 tons per hectare in 2010 to 12.9 tons per hectare this year, according to the crop production department of the Ministry of Agriculture.

This year, Tajik farmers plan to produce more than 351,000 tons of potatoes from 14,600 hectares.  “To-date, they have yielded some 30,000 tons of potatoes from 1,800 hectares,” the source at a MoA said.

In Khatlon province, farmers have produced 24,100 tons of potatoes from 1,500 hectares by July 9, with average yields standing at 15.8 tons/ha.  3,100 hectares have been allocated to potato cultivation in Khatlon this year.

In the northern Sughd province, 5,100 hectares have been allocated to potatoes this year and local farmers have produced 507 tons of potatoes from 37 hectares so far, with average potato yields amounting to 13.7 tons/ha.

Farmers in districts subordinate to the center have planted potatoes on 4,800 hectares this year.  Their target is 116,500 tons of potatoes.  To-date, potato growers in districts subordinate to the center have produced more than 5,000 tons of potatoes from 327 hectares, with average potato yields increasing from 14 ton/ha in 2010 to 15.3 tons/ha.