An important agricultural campaign – cotton sowing – has started in the country. In accordance with the schedule approved at the sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers on March 15, cotton growers in the Ahal, Balkan, Lebap and Mary velayats began sowing on March 20. Farmers of the Dashoguz velayat are to join them on March 27.

According to established tradition, the beginning of sowing was blessed by venerable elders. After reading a prayer to the Almighty for the wellbeing and prosperity of the Motherland, the Turkmen people and the head of state, they threw the first cotton seeds into the ground and then gave way to machine operators.