One of the priorities of the state policy being pursued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov is rapid development of the agro-industrial complex, which is directly related to ensuring food abundance in the country, and a high level and quality of life for the population. Large-scale reforms are successfully carried out in this area, aimed at increasing its efficiency and expand the production of various types of agricultural output.

The adoption of the Program “Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State: the National Program for Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan in 2022-2052” marked the beginning of a new stage of large-scale transformations aimed at achieving lofty goals.

At a working meeting via a digital system held on July 25, where issues related to the implementation of the provisions outlined in the National Rural Program were discussed, the head of state emphasized that the fulfillment of the objectives set is the primary present-day requirement, and the ongoing activities contribute to socio-economic development of the Homeland and improvement of the rural population’s wellbeing.

Comprehensive measures are undertaken in order to achieve the goals set by the President of Turkmenistan to further improve the management and restructuring of agriculture, the establishment of new economic relations in the rural areas, the rational use of land and water resources, raising soil fertility and crop yields, introducing advanced technologies and the latest scientific and technological developments.

In this regard, the head of state emphasized the importance of a responsible approach to plowing the fields freed from wheat, rational use of land in the velayats, cleaning water reservoirs and collectors, timely harvesting grown crops of vegetables, melons and other agricultural crops and supplying them to domestic markets. Specific instructions were given to the leadership of the agro-industrial complex regarding compliance with standards of agricultural technology in carrying out agricultural work and careful water use when irrigating agricultural lands.

It is noteworthy that Turkmenistan is consistently implementing a strategy to address the challenges related to water issues of global importance, contributing to the efforts being made by the international community. Water diplomacy, highlighted by the President of Turkmenistan as the foreign policy priority, implies not only long-term cooperation in this vital area, but it also applies to the direct development of our own best practices, the effectiveness of which can serve all of humanity.

Having the richest experience of prudent water use, accumulated over millennia, Turkmenistan is already developing it for the future based on the most modern approaches, and taking into account global trends, as well as puts forward international environmental initiatives. One of them is the establishment of the Regional Center for Climate Change Technologies in Ashgabat under the UN auspices.

There is an obvious relationship between the forethought of actions in relation to water use, the volume of agricultural production and food security. On the other hand, the systemic environmental activities being carried out in Turkmenistan are becoming a factor in the growth of the national economy, the basis for the transition, on the entire national economy scale. to a fundamentally new model of nature management.

In the water industry, modern, more environmentally advanced land reclamation technologies are introduced, and measures are taken to improve the efficiency of control over the rational use of water resources.

The provision of strategic water reserves is one of the goals specified in the unprecedented project being carried out in the country, which is the construction of the “Altyn asyr” Turkmen Lake in the Karakum Desert, which already has a beneficial effect on the environment, including the increase in biodiversity. Various species of fish settled in its collectors, and reed beds and tamarisk woods along the watercourse banks became a habitat for birds. The water system of the lake will also have a beneficial effect on mitigating the harsh desert climate.

The construction of new modern villages on the shores of a unique hydraulic facility in the center of the endless Karakum Desert will give impetus to the development of desert lands, and will allow for development of the livestock sector, agriculture and fish farming. This is the aim of the “Concept for the Development of the “Altyn asyr” Lake region for 2019-2025”, the phased implementation of which is of exceptional importance from both economic and environmental point of view.

One of the most important objectives for the construction of the Turkmen Lake is to prevent pollution of the Amudarya River. This project, unprecedented in its scale, is of great importance for the whole Central Asia. Its successful completion will not only open up qualitatively new opportunities and possibilities for development of agriculture and water management in our country, but it will also have a beneficial effect on the ecology of the entire region.

According to assessments by domestic and foreign experts, the high profitability of the “Altyn asyr” Turkmen Lake project is beyond doubt. Moreover, its economic return will only grow over time, since the operation of this hydro-technical facility will be associated with a reduction in currently high costs for organizing an optimal water consumption schedule in agriculture, saving and preserving natural resources.

As part of the large-scale reforms being carried out in the agrarian sector, an integral system of state support for the agro-industrial complex has been formed in Turkmenistan. One of its basic elements is investments made in upgrading the infrastructure, technical re-equipment of agriculture and service industries, including the construction of agro-processing enterprises and mineral fertilizers production factories. Significant financial resources are allocated for irrigation and land reclamation, and development of science, breeding and seeding.

Another important agricultural campaign is coming. This is the cotton harvest. A total of 580.000 hectares of land have been allotted for cotton across the country. In general, it is planned to procure 1 million 250 thousand tons of this valuable crop, including in 280 thousand tons Akhal velayat, 10 thousand tons in Balkan velayat, 275 thousand tons in Dashoguz velayat, 320 thousand tons in Lebap velayat, and 365 thousand tons in Mary velayat. Moreover, private producers of agricultural crops, who were allocated plots from a special agricultural land fund, began to cultivate this crop.

As President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has repeatedly emphasized, the foundation of a good harvest is laid by the use of high-quality varieties of agricultural crops that are resistant to diseases and pests, and adapted to local soil and climatic conditions. Preference is given to such varieties as “Ýolöten-7”, “Ýolöten-39”, “Jeýhun”, “S-2606”, “Daşoguz-120”, “Daşoguz-114”, “Gubadag-3”, and “149-F”, characterized by early maturity, high yield, staple length and purity of the fiber.

Thus, effective measures are taken to diversify agricultural production. Rice is grown in the regions, where soil and climate conditions are most suitable, such as Dashoguz and Lebap velayats, whereas sugar beet is grown in Mary and Balkan velayats.

On the instructions of the head of state, large areas of virgin land are developed in all regions of the country today. Areas are allocated for the cultivation of potatoes, other vegetable, grain and melon crops, new fruit gardens and vineyards are laid. All this requires a constant increase in the level of technical equipment of agriculture, predetermines the demand for modern machinery, mechanized and automated systems for certain technological processes.

A great contribution to development of the agro-industrial complex is made by Turkmen agricultural scientists, employees of research centers at higher agricultural institutions, whose objectives include breeding and seeding work, improvement of agricultural technology for the cultivation of various crops, including the testing of innovative technologies in soil-conservation practices, and analysis of the effectiveness of ongoing activities.

Domestic breeders have dozens of high-yield varieties of different crops introduced into production in the fields of the country, including soft wheats “Türkmenbaşy”, “Bitarap”, “Lebap-1”, “Ýolöten-1”, “Ýolöten -3”, “Miras”, “Garaşsyzlyk”, “Berkarar”, “Bagtyýarlyk” and “Döwletli”, and durum wheats “Türkmenbaşy-1”, “Akbaş”, as well as “Bereket” rice, “Sona” barley, “Paýtagt” and “Laçyn” corn, and “Bereketli” mung bean.

It is appropriate to note that, at the present time, goods of the agro-industrial complex are sold at exchange auctions, which are exported to different countries of the world.

Ginned cotton, sheep, goat and camel wool, licorice root and other agricultural goods produced in our country, attracting with excellent quality and competitiveness, are in great demand in foreign markets.

High mechanization and automation of labor is a key aspect of improving the efficiency of agricultural production. Target-focused steps in this area have made it possible to raise the prestige of working professions in the rural areas, attract young personnel and improve employment. A significant help for farmers is new modern machinery from leading world manufacturers, which is operated in the fields during the grain and cotton harvest, and sowing season, such as combines, ploughing and universal tractors, as well as plows, grain seeders, etc.

It should be emphasized that today the problems of technical and technological modernization of the industry are addressed on an innovative basis, taking into account the Concept for Development of the Digital Economy in Turkmenistan. In particular, high-performance special machinery of the John Deere (USA) and Claas (Germany) brands, purchased by our country, is gradually switched to a telematic digital control system.

This season, domestic silkworm breeders have successfully fulfilled their contractual obligations for the production of silkworm cocoons, having delivered to the state bin more than 2 thousand 300 tons of valuable raw material for the textile industry.

As is known, sericulture is one of the age-old folk crafts of the Turkmens. The masters of the “silver thread” have passed on the national traditions of silk production from generation to generation for centuries, having preserved the secrets of making amazing silk fabrics and carpets to our days.

Today, mulberry plantations are expanding in the regions, where trees are planted along the perimeter of sown areas, which serves as a good protection of agricultural crops from winds, contributes to strengthening the banks of irrigation canals, and creates a favorable ecological environment.

It should be also noted that the villagers, as a rule, are combining silkworm breeding with the cultivation of cotton and wheat.

Animal husbandry, poultry farming, vegetable growing, gardening, viticulture, melons, watermelons and gourds cultivation, beekeeping and other types of agricultural business are actively developing.

Representatives of the private sector of the economy, who are successfully carrying out large investment projects in the above-mentioned industries, take an active participation in this large-scale work. Among the promising areas is the development of greenhouse farms, the number of which is systematically increasing in the regions.

As part of the implementation of the State Programs for Import Substitution and Increasing Exports, agro-industrial clusters are established in all velayats that include livestock and poultry complexes, agricultural raw materials processing enterprises and greenhouse complexes, where advanced experience is taken as a basis, and modern technologies are introduced. Enterprises producing meat, dairy and bakery products and other foodstuffs are regularly put into operation.

The signing by the President of Turkmenistan of a number of significant documents at an enlarged meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on June 4 is aimed at the full provision of the domestic market with food in the period of the Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State, supporting commodity producers in the poultry industry in order to increase poultry meat and eggs.

In general, the effectiveness of the measures being taken to implement the State Program for Import Substitution reflects the growing output of flour, bread and bakery products, meat, milk, eggs, vegetables, watermelons and melons in the country.

The share of the private sector in development of the agro-industrial complex is increasing every year, which is indicated by a significant reduction in the import of foodstuffs, mainly fruits and vegetables, and an increase in their exports.

The stepping up of agribusiness is largely facilitated by preferential bank loans provided to farmers’ associations and farms, agricultural joint-stock companies and research institutes, tenants, private entrepreneurs and other agricultural producers.

A special importance in the state environmental policy is attached to the National Forest Program, the implementation of which involves almost the entire population of the country. Nationwide tree planting actions that launch spring and autumn landscaping campaigns have become a well-established tradition. 

Today, the results of this many years of work are visible everywhere. Man-made forests, gardens, parks and squares are spread over vast areas in different regions of the Homeland. New woodlands appear around each city and settlement, and the foothills of the Kopetdag in the vicinity of Ashgabat are becoming covered with vegetation.

It should be noted that the 30-year program for socio-economic development of the Homeland provides for the successful implementation of measures to ensure food abundance in the country. These measures make it necessary to attach particular importance to the effective science-based approaches to development of the agricultural sector, the introduction of digital technologies into the agro-industrial complex, and the rational use of water resources.

In general, all the above is intended to contribute to the further successful achievement of the goals set by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to increase the abundance of goods in the domestic market by expanding domestic production for a happy life of our people.