DUSHANBE, April 1, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A cotton-sowing campaign has been launched in all the 18 districts of the southern Khatlon province.

A source at the crop sector directorate within the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) said that over the past two weeks, Khatlon farmers have planted cotton on 18,000 hectares.  124,400 hectares of land have been allotted in the province for growing cotton.

In all, 200,700 hectares have been allotted in the country this year for growing cotton.  Sughd farmers are expected to plant cotton on 65,200 hectares and districts subordinate to the center will plant cotton 11,100 hectares this year.