DUSHANBE, September 24, Asia-Plus — Local authorities in some districts are seeking support of clerics to ensure participation of local residents in the ongoing cotton-harvesting campaign. Thus, clerics of the Vose district, Khatlon have called on local residents to actively participate in the ongoing cotton-harvesting campaign.
Recently, Asia-Plus’ reporter participated in the ‘tarobeh’ prayer in the mosque of the Tugarak jamoat. Imam (leader) of the mosque Azam Akhtamov talking to parishioners called on them to help farmers harvest cotton.
In his appeal, Akhtamov said that every evening, parishioners should bring to mullahs notes about how many cotton they harvested that day and they, in turn, will send those documents to the district administration. “If you do not go to harvest cotton, mosques will be closed down by order of authorities and you will have to pray at home,” Akhtamov said.
In the meantime, the Vose district chairman Alimurod Taghoymurodov has denied this information as unfounded. “We have just asked heads of village communities and local clerics to call on the population to help farmers harvest cotton, but no orders or warns have been made about closing mosques,” the Vose chairman said.
Cotton farmers in Vose have complained about low rates of wages. According to them, like ten years ago they still receive wages at the rate of 10 dirams per one kilogram of cotton, while prices of some basic food products have risen 10 times over the past decade. Miserable wages and delays in paying them are among the main reasons for unwillingness of farmers to work in cotton fields.
Debts of the Vose cotton farmers to futures companies are increasing year out. They now owe more than 20 million US dollars to their creditors.
According to Safarali Zohirov, the deputy head of the Islamic Revival Party’s (IRPT) organization for the Kulob region of Khatlon, senior school pupils in Vose have also been sent to cotton plantations, which is in contrary to the country’s legislation.
