Tajikistan prepared to grow fine fiber cotton for global defense industry

Tajik Minister of Agriculture Qosim Qosimov at the news conference in Dushanbe on January 24 said that for Tajikistan, cotton is not a strategic crop anymore. But they are ready to grow fine-fiber cotton for the global defense industry, for production of parachutes, if they receive orders for this type of cotton.

In Tajikistan, cotton has not encouraged development of the cotton subsector and separate farming unit though it is profitable crop for the country, due to lack of demand, the fall in international cotton prices as well as lack of seasonal preferential loans.

Qosimov said that they have not given up cotton growing, but everything depends on farmers and their choice. He believes that in the future they will produce cotton in the volume that their manufacturing industry will be able to purchase.

The international cotton prices are continuing to fall and current international price for one ton of cotton fiber reportedly fluctuates from 1,700 USD to 1,800 USD.

In 2013, Tajikistan reportedly produced 392,000 tons of raw cotton, which was 96.4 percent of the national cotton target. Last year, 191,33 hectares were allotted to cotton cultivation, which was 4 percent or 8,133 hectares fewer than in 2012.