DUSHANBE, May 15, 2013, Asia-Plus -- A cotton-sowing campaign is nearing completion in Tajikistan and cotton growers have sown cotton on more than 192,500 hectares by May 15, which is more than 96 percent of the cotton sowing target, an official source at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) said.

According to the MoA crop sector department, some 200,000 hectares have been allocated to cotton cultivation this year, including 6,700 hectares allocated to cultivation of the fine-fiber cotton.

Farmers in the southern Khatlon province have reportedly reached some 97.7 percent of their cotton sowing target.  131,200 hectares have been allocated to cotton cultivation in Khatlon this year.  To-date, Khatlon farmers have sown cotton on more than 128,000 hectares.

In the northern province of Sughd, 61,200 hectares have been allocated to cotton cultivation and local farmers have sown cotton on 58,800 hectares so far, nearly 96 percent of their cotton sowing target.

Districts subordinate to the center have allocated 7,600 hectare to cotton cultivation this year.  To-date, cotton growers in the districts subordinate to the center have sown cotton on more than 5,800 hectares, some 76.3 percent of the cotton sowing target.

Experts from the MoA expect Tajik farmers to yield 415,000 tons of raw cotton this year.

Last year, Tajik farmers yielded 415,000 tons of raw cotton from some 200,000 hectares.

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.