DUSHANBE, January 15, 2015, Asia-Plus — Tajik farmers have reportedly reduced areas under cotton.
In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sijouddin Isroilov, noted on January 15 that farming units last year planted cotton on about 178,000 hectares, which was roughly 14,000 hectares fewer than in 2013.
“In 2014, Tajik farmers yielded about 373,000 tons of raw cotton, which is 5.1 percent fewer than it was originally planned,” the deputy minister noted.
He attributed reduction in areas under cotton to, first of all, diversification of the agrarian sector. “Tajik farmers are free to choose what agricultural crops to plant,” said Isroilov. “The number of livestock and poultry farms is increasing in the country, and therefore, farmers allocate a part of lands for cereals and feed crops in order to meet needs of these farms.”
Besides, the international cotton prices are decreasing from year to year, Isroilov added.
Cotton fiber is among Tajikistan’s top export products and last year it accounted for 14 percent of the country’s exports.
Agriculture accounts for 23 percent of GDP and 48 percent of employment in Tajikistan, so it plays a major role in the country’s economic growth and poverty reduction.
