According to data from the Plant Cultivation Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Tajik farers this year have planted cotton on an area of 181,542 hectares, which is 2.4 percent or 4,458 hectares fewer than it was originally planned at the beginning of the year.  

Thus, Sughd province has completed the cotton-sowing target by 97 percent this year, planting cotton on 57,200 hectares instead of the planned 59,000 hectares.

Khatlon province this year has completed the cotton-sowing target by 98.9 percent, planting cotton on 121,694 hectares instead of the planned 123,000 hectares.

The cotton-growing districts subordinate to the center have completed the cotton-sowing target by 66.7 percent this year, planting cotton on 2,600 hectares instead of the planned 4,000 hectares. 

It is to be noted that cotton planting area in Tajikistan decreases annually.  At the same time, farmers intend to yield the same amount of raw cotton (400,000-420,000 tons) due to increasing cotton yield.  

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported on August 20 that Extreme weather is wreaking havoc upon virtually all of the world’s largest cotton suppliers. 

In India, the top-producing country, heavy rains and pests have reportedly cut into cotton crops so much that the nation is importing supplies.

A heat wave in China is reportedly raising concerns about the upcoming harvest there.

In the United States, the largest exporter of the commodity, a worsening drought is ravaging farms and is set to drag production to the lowest level in more than a decade, according to Bloomberg.

Brazil, the second-largest exporter, is reportedly battling extreme heat and drought that have already cut yields by nearly 30%.

Abnormally hot weather and drought have reportedly led to a 30-percent increase in the international cotton prices, which is a record for more than 10 years.