DUSHANBE, November 10, Asia-Plus – “Incomes of cotton farms depend not only on cotton yields but also on deals done with investors,” Saidmurod Bahriddinov, the head of department for industrial crops of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
“If the cotton yields are lower than 2.5 tons per hectare, farming units incur losses because expenses are not justified,” Bahriddinov said. “Cotton farms conclude bargains with investors, which are also owners of cotton-ginning factories,” said he, “Cotton farmers depend on investors because deals are done for the future harvests.”
Since investors supply seeds, fuel, mineral fertilizers, spare parts of the agricultural machines and even pay wages to farmers, the last should cover all expenses of investors. “Investors buy cotton that remains after settlement of all accounts at obviously lowered prices,” said Bahriddinov, “The ministries of agriculture and economy have recommended investors to buy cotton from farmers at higher prices, but these recommendations have been ignored.” As a result, farmers realize cotton at the rate of US$250-US$300 per ton and do not have the anticipated profit, according to him.
At present more than 15,000 cotton farms are functioning in Tajikistan.
