Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, March 26
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
Turkmenistan has started its annual seeding campaign for the raw cotton harvest in 2014, aiming to gather over one million tons of cotton, Turkmenistan's Ministry of Agriculture said on March 26.
Cotton sowing in the Akhal, Lebap and Mary provinces of Turkmenistan began on March 26, while in Dashoguz province it is planned to start planting on April 2 due to climatic conditions, the ministry said.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a working meeting with the heads of regional administrations, Turkmenistan-4 TV channel reported on March 26.
"The president gave a number of instructions on organising the start of the important agricultural campaign, the spring sowing and proper conduct of agricultural activities on care for the cotton crop," the Ministry of Agriculture said.
The sowing areas cover more than 540,000 hectares in Turkmenistan. Taking into account the soil and climatic conditions, valuable fine fibre cotton varieties will be planted in two regions of the country, namely Mary and Akhal provinces.
There are 36 ginneries under the Turkmenpagta (Turkmencotton) State Concern in the country.
Cotton is not only the main raw material for the national textile industry, but a valuable export product.
The country traditionally supplies cotton to China, Russia, Great Britain, South Korea, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Ukraine and the Baltic countries.
Cotton production (cotton lint) is sold through the Turkmen State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by S.M.