DUSHANBE (Asia-Plus) — Tajikistan plans to extend areas under cotton this year at the expense of areas allocated to cereals, according to the Tajik Ministry of Agriculture (MoT). An official source at a MoA says 187,500 hectares of agricultural lands will be allocated to cotton cultivation this year, which is 13,500 hectares more than last year.

Tajikistan is also extending areas under potatoes. Areas under potatoes will also be extended at the expense of areas allocated to cereals and fodders.

Local experts attribute recommendations to extend areas under cotton to the increase in the international cotton prices. Tajikistan last year yielded nearly 380,000 tons of raw cotton. The 2017 cotton target has been determined at 356,000 tons.

Last year’s warm days and observance by farming units of cotton cultivation requirements allowed cotton growing district to fulfil the 2017 cotton target in a timely fashion.

Cotton makes an important contribution to Tajik economy. Along with primary aluminium, cotton has been one of major export items for the country. In 2015, cotton fibre accounted for 23.1% of Tajikistan’s exports. In 2016, its share in Tajikistan’s exports fell to 16.1%, and last year, it accounted for an estimated 13.5%.

Only 6% of the Tajikistan is arable, and over 20% of it is under cotton cultivation.