In 2013, Tajikistan is estimated to have produced 392,000 tons of cotton, about 3.6 percent lower than the target set for the year, reports new.tj.
In 2013, cotton was cultivated on 191,333 hectares of land, which was 8,133 hectares or 4 percent lower than the area under cotton cultivation in 2012, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The area under cotton decreased mainly because of the Government’s directive to increase areas under fruits, vegetables and fodder crops.
Other reasons for the decline in cotton production were the fall in international cotton prices, shortage of water during the harvest period, and lack of proper access to preferential loans for farming units.
Non-earmarking of funds for development of the cotton subsector in the country’s Budget also affected cotton growing in Tajikistan during the year, according to the report.
In 2014, cotton is expected to be grown on 200,000 hectares of land, but the Tajikistan Government is not going to set any production target, as has been done in the previous’ years.
As cotton sector is not subsidized by the Government, farmers will make their choice depending on international prices of cotton and other crops.
In Tajikistan, cotton contributes about 60 percent to the country’s total agricultural output. It is grown on 45 percent of irrigated arable land and acts as a source of livelihood for about 75 percent of the rural population.
Cotton has always been among the leading export items for Tajikistan and cotton and cotton products accounted for 18.6 percent share in the country’s exports in 2012, earning US$ 244.8 million.
From January to October 2013, Tajikistan exported 88.6 tons of cotton valued at US$ 147.8 million, recording a decline of 22 percent compared to 114.3 tons of exports worth US$ 168.4 million made during the corresponding period of last year, according to Customs.
Over 40 percent of Tajik cotton is exported to Turkey, followed by Russia with about 23 percent, China with 13 percent and Kazakhstan with 6.5 percent.
