On 8-9 September over 1500 conscripts doing military service in Turkmenistan were sent from Mary to Akhal velayat to harvest cotton. Tickets for passenger trains Mary-Ashgabat are not available for these dates.
The conscripts from the military units stationed in Ashgabat and suburbs were mobilized to take part in the cotton harvesting campaign on 1 September.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that public utilities employees of all etraps in Mary velayat, including drivers, have also been warned that they will soon have to go to Akhal velayat to be engaged in the cotton harvesting campaign.
A considerable part of cotton plants on the fields of Mary valayat had pest outbreaks, in particular Helicoverpa armigera (cotton bollworm). Weather conditions also affected the crops. The quality of cotton crops in Akhal velayat is not much better.
Public sector employees report that they harvest 1 to 3 kilos of “white gold” a day.For instance, in Yoloten etrap cotton has not opened up fully yet.
In the majority of fields leaves and cotton balls are brown, which suggest that the crops are infested with numerous pests.Radio “Azatlyk” has previously reported mass disease of cotton in the fields in Mary and Akhal velayats.
Public sector employees can send their replacement to harvest cotton by paying the remuneration of 20 manats a day to a hired worker.
“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” has previously reported that cotton producers of Turkmenistan were instructed to help Akhal velayat to harvest cotton crops first.It was stated that in late August every rural family from other Turkmen provinces was urged to send one adult to harvest cotton in Akhal velayat for a month at their own expense.