DUSHANBE, February 28, 2014, Asia-Plus — Chinese farmers working in Tajikistan intend to rent dry-farming lands in Qumsangir district of Khatlon province, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).
An official source at a MoA says a subsidiary farm of China’s Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) Qinyang Inhai is currently operating 280 hectares of land in Khatlon. According to him, it is the only Chinese farming unit functioning in Tajikistan.
“Chinese farmers are currently operating 99 hectares lands in Rumi district and 181 hectares in Yovon district. These lands are leased for 49 years,” said the source. “In Yovon, Chinese farmers are cultivating cotton on 122 hectares. They have used seeds delivered from China.”
“Chinese farmers’ application for additional lands has not yet been approved. This issue will be discussed with representatives of the Chinese farming unit in the near future,” the source added.
We will recall that in January 2011, Tajik authorities made a decision to lease some 500 hectares of land in Khatlon province to Chinese farmers – 150 hectares in Jomi district, 150 hectares in Yovon district and 85 hectares in Rumi district.
The MoA officials noted in January 2012 that Chinese farming unit will invest 2 million U.S. dollars and provide modern technologies and technical to make those fields productive and efficient.
