Turkmenistan Ashgabat, March 1 /Trend H. Hasanov/
Turkmenistan is getting ready for cotton sowing on the total area of 550 thousand hectares, according to the Friday report of the ministry of agriculture of the country.
Sowing works may start in late March. Considering soil and climate conditions, valuable fine-fibered cotton cultivars will be sowed in two regions of the country - Mary and Ahal velayats (provinces).
Currently, the plowed lands are being fertilized with organic and mineral fertilizers.
1.235 million tons of cotton was collected last year, or by 12,6 percent more than in 2011.
There are 36 cotton mills under the Turkmenpagta state concern. Raw cotton is grown in five velayats (regions) of the country: Akhal, Mary, Lebap, Dashoguz and Balkan. Harvesting is usually carried out from August to October, last year it was held also in November.