DUSHANBE, October 25, 2013, Asia-Plus – Tajik Minister of Agriculture Qosim Qosimov has met here with Andrey Gitchuns, representative of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) press center reported on October 25.

The two reportedly exchanged views on Tajikistan’s entry to the ICAC.

Mr. Gitchuns, in particular, noted that Tajikistan’s entry to the ICAC will open an access to the community cotton producing countries as well as to statistics and technical information and raise awareness of cotton issues and strengthen trade ties and cooperation between industrial segments and the governments on issues being of mutual interest.

Qosimov, for his art, noted that Tajikistan was interested in solving cotton problems related to trade rules, phytosanitary certification, expansion of demand, and cotton quality assessment, especially against a background of the ICAC forecast on 11 percent reduction in the world cotton production in 2013-2014, the MoA pres center said.

Cotton is most used fiber of the world.  The demand for cotton is increased day by day. To fulfill the demand of raw cotton fiber different cotton producing countries are trying their best.    

In Tajikistan, 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.