KHUJAND, September 27, 2008, Asia-Plus — This year’s rice and wheat harvests in northern Tajikistan may be less than last year’s ones, Rustamjon Rahimov, deputy head of the Sughd agriculture directorate, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, local farmers have harvested 43,713 tons of wheat over the first eight months of this year, which is 20,000 tons fewer than in the same period of 2007. This year’s wheat target has been determined at 89,960 tons. Rahimov attributes a decline in wheat yields to shortage of water.
Shortage of water has also affected rice-harvesting campaign in the province. “Sughd farmers have pledged to harvest 17,853 tons of rice this year, however, it is already clear that the rice harvest will be fewer than the last year,” the Sughd agriculture official said.
In the meantime, potato harvest is expected to be good this year. Local farmers have produced 17,848 tons of potatoes so far. They plan to gather 88,915 tons of potatoes this year. According to Rahimov, potato yields have increased by more than 26 percent this year.
