KHUJAN, September 19, Asia-Plus — Canneries in northern Tajikistan have increased production volumes despite shortage of empties (bottle and jars).
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, acting head of Idorai Khurokvorii Sughd (Sughd food industry directorate), Abdukarim Vohidov, said Sughd canneries have processed 27,209 tons of fruits and vegetables and produced 51,3030 conventional jars of juices and other products since the beginning of this year, which is 11,545 conventional jars more than in this same period of 2007.
Specialists attribute increase in the production volumes to good apricot harvest this year.
Twelve large canneries and a number small enterprises for processing fruits and vegetables currently operate in Khujand, Bobojonghafurov, Panjakent, Isfara, Konibodom and Asht.
According to head of the Khujand cannery Abdurabi Sanginov, the main problem facing them is shortage of empties. “This year, we have needed one million 2-liter and one million 1-liter jars, while, we have received only 1.256 million and 153,000 jars respectively,” said Sanginov. “Because of this problem we have not yet processed the apricot paste.”
The state now owns 40 percent of the shares and the Dushanbe company Navo assumes the 60% ownership interest in the Khujand cannery, which is one of the largest enterprises in northern Tajikistan.
