Tajikistan's cotton harvest lags, textile industry faces challenges

Tajikistan's cotton harvest is facing significant delays due to heavy rainfall, potentially impacting the country's textile industry. Till late October, only 164,000 tons of cotton had been harvested, falling short of expectations. The delayed harvest could extend into mid-December, leading to lower production volumes. Slow harvest poses challenges for Tajikistan's textile industry, which heavily relies on domestic cotton supply. Currently, only 20-25 per cent of the country's cotton is processed locally, with the rest exported for manufacturing abroad.

The government aims to increase domestic processing by establishing new cotton processing plants, such as the one under construction in Kulob. This facility, once operational, will have the capacity to process 130,000 tons of cotton annually.

While Tajikistan has potential in the textile sector, it faces hurdles in cotton production and processing. Addressing these challenges is crucial for the country to fully realize its textile industry's potential and reduce reliance on imports.