DUSAHNBE, September 13, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan has yielded more than 111,300 tons of cotton by September 12, which is 20.4 percent of the national target, which has been determined at 550,000 tons of cotton, according to information from the Ministry of Agriculture.  

A source in the Ministry of Agriculture says this is 16.4 percent more compared to the same period of last year.  According to him, the republic daily yields 8,800 tons of this valuable textile raw material.  At present cotton farmers yield cotton by hand, while cotton combiner harvesters will be used beginning from October.  The source noted that cotton combine harvesters may be used only in a number of districts, including Nosir Khusrav, Zafarobod, and Yovon.   According to him, cotton farmers today cannot afford to use agricultural machines because of high prices of fuel.   

We will recall that the Khatlon province has pledged to produce 329 tons of cotton this year, Sughd – 171, 300 tons, and districts subordinate to the center (central Tajikistan) – 49,700 tons.