ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 24. Turkmenistan's farmers are actively using digital technologies to sow cotton in the Lebap region, located in the east of the country, Trend reports.
According to official data, farmers in the region have allocated about 130,000 hectares of land for cotton sowing this season.
At the moment, about 80 percent of the territory allocated for cotton planting in the region is sown using high-performance equipment, including digitally controlled ones.
A significant part of the agricultural equipment used during the cotton sowing period is controlled through digital systems, which indicates the active implementation of innovative solutions in the agro-industrial complex of the country.
During the sowing campaign, Monosem precision seeding drills with digital control will be used, as well as about 400 units of modern equipment, which will ensure that sowing works are carried out strictly according to agrotechnical rules and on time.
Meanwhile, in early February of this year, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a decree on a significant increase in state purchase prices for cotton.
The cost of medium-fiber cotton has increased more than three times, while since 2019 it has ranged from 1,365 to 1,500 Turkmen manat (from $390.7 to $429.3) per ton. Now it will range from 4,550 to 5,000 Turkmen manat (from $1302.4 through $1,431.2) per ton, depending on the harvest period.
Prices for fine-fiber cotton have increased even more significantly, from 1820–2000 Turkmen manat ($521–$572.5) to 6,100–6,700 Turkmen manat ($1746–$1917.8) per ton.