DUSHAHBE, May 28, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- A cotton-sowing campaign has been completed in Tajikistan.

This year, cotton growers have sown cotton on little more than 193,000 hectares, which is nearly 7,000 hectares less than last year, according to the crop sector department, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

Farmers in the southern Khatlon province have reportedly sown cotton on more than 128,000 hectares.

In the northern province of Sughd, farmers have sown cotton on 59,000 hectares this year.

Districts subordinate to the center have sown cotton on more than 5,800 hectares this year.

Experts from a 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.