Tashkent, 14 May 1997 (RFE/RL) - Officials say recent storms in Uzbekistan have damaged more than 60 percent of this year's cotton crop.
Of the 1.5 million hectares planted, 982,000 are said to be badly damaged and 287,000 need to be replanted.
Cotton is one of Uzbekistan's main exports but officials in the country say they will still be able to meet this year's target figure of 4 million tons of cotton.