China to Train Tajik Growers on Control, Application Techniques

By Jim.Robinson|July 17, 2013

After importing Tajikistan’s cotton for several years, China is now planning to help the Central Asian country combat pests that have been affecting Tajik cotton productivity.

The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, a part of the China Academy of Sciences, will be implementing a three-year project called the Sino-Tajik agreement. Xinjiang is China’s largest high-quality cotton producing area.

Under the agreement, Chinese scientists will create 10 to 12 observation points for pests in Tajikistan over the next three years. The observation points will be used to monitor insect and pest control.

The researchers from the Xinjiang Institute will train people from the local agricultural science and technology institutes. The training will pertain to biological and physical control techniques as well as a range of application techniques.

Tajikistan is an important cotton-producing country in Central Asia. In 2012, the country produced 500,000 tons of cotton. In recent years, cotton production in Tajikistan has been significantly affected by large-scale pest and insect attacks.