Tajikistan's citrus exports exceed 10,000 tonnes annually

Tajikistan's Jayhun district is currently seeing a concentration of citrus production, with annual exports of lemons exceeding 10,000 tonnes. According to Mukhammadzhon Makhmadsharif, a chief specialist at the district's agricultural department, citrus cultivation now spans 200 hectares of land. The production structure in the region involves a mix of open-field and greenhouse farming. Residents are cultivating a diverse range of subtropical fruits, including lemons, mandarins, kiwi, bananas, papayas, limes, and grapefruits. The operational model for smaller holdings often relies on a hybrid approach of traditional orchards and climate-controlled environments. For instance, the "Makhmadlatif" dehkan farm allocates 30% of its 3-hectare plot to lemon greenhouses, while the remainder is dedicated to peaches. This specific farm's data reveals the maturation trajectory of the crop: lemon seedlings planted in 2021 have reached a five-year growth stage, with yields now ranging between 80 and 200 kilograms per tree.