DUSHANBE, October 23, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- On Wednesday October 22, President Emomali Rahmon held a meeting with participation of representatives of the government, president’s office and relevant ministries and organizations to discuss the situation in the agrarian sector, according to presidential press service. 

Governors of Khatlon and Sughd provinces as well as heads of Vahdat, Roudaki, Hissor, Shahrinav and Tursunzoda districts also attended the meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of agriculture, Murodali Alimardonov, Agriculture Minister Qosim Qosimov reported on the cotton-harvesting campaign, autumn sowing campaign and preparations for the spring sowing campaign.

During the meeting, it was noted Tajikistan has good cotton harvest this year and cotton farmers are expected to yield more than 410,000 tons of cotton this year, while the national cotton target for this has been determined at 550,000 tons of cotton, the press service said.  

            Speaking at the meeting, the president expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the cotton-harvesting campaign and set specified tasks to speed up the cotton-picking campaign and increase wages of cotton-pickers.