DUSHANBE, October 22, 2014, Asia-Plus – Tajik farming units are taking measures to gather cotton on time.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the country’s cotton growing districts have yielded nearly 245,000 tons of raw cotton by October 22, which is more than 61 percent of the preliminary forecast.

150,000 people are reportedly engaged in the cotton-harvesting campaign and they currently pick 5,900 tons of raw cotton per day.   

An official source at a MoA says that under the preliminary cotton crop forecast Tajik cotton growing districts are expected to yield 399,000 tons of raw cotton this year.

Cotton growers of the southern Khatlon province have yielded more than 177,000 tons for raw cotton by October 22.  The Sughd cotton growing districts have yielded more than 62,000 tons of raw cotton by October 8, and the cotton growing districts subordinate to the center have yielded more than 5,300 tons of raw cotton by October 22.

This year, Tajik farmers have planted cotton on nearly 180,000 hectares.

Last year, Tajik cotton growers produced nearly 399,000 tons of raw cotton from 178,000 hectares.