KULOB, September 8, 2008, Asia-Plus — Farmers in all ten districts of Khatlon’s Kulob region have harvested 126,770 tons of wheat from more than 80,000 hectares this year, which is 15,283 tons fewer than it was originally planned, the Kulob agriculture directorate head Abudllo Rajabov said in an interview with Asia-plus.
According to him, Vose, Temourmalik, Danghara and Baljuvon districts have overfulfilled their, however, the Kulob region has failed to fulfill its annual wheat target because Farkhor, Shuroobod and Muminobod districts have not fulfilled their wheat targets due to unprecedented drought that hit the region this year.
“Farkhor has managed to harvest only 7,500 tons of wheat from 8,100 hectares, while the target has been determined at 21,251 tons, which is 463 tons few than last year, which was considered the worst season,” Rajabov said, noting that Shuroobod and Muminobod districts have also received less than their due – 2,400 and 2,000 tons respectively.
Even farmers in the Danghara district, which accounts for two-thirds of the overall Kulob grain harvest, have lost nearly 2,000 tons of wheat this year, the agriculture directorate said.
Wheat shortages have led to increase of prices of wheat and bread on the Kulob markets; the price of one kilogram of wheat on markets in Kulob is now 2.2 somonis and a standard ‘non’ (Tajik national bread) now costs 2-2.5 somonis.
