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At the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers via the digital system held on February 21, the head of state Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the Resolution “On the establishment of the Scientific Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan”. This document was adopted in order to develop the country’s livestock and poultry industry on a scientific basis in the era of the Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state, to develop innovative technologies for veterinary research, to increase the efficiency of research work on the rational use of pastures, to improve production technologies and processing of livestock products.
It should be noted that in Turkmenistan, cattle breeding, sheep farming, poultry farming and camel breeding, taking into account local climatic conditions and the forage base, are the main areas of animal husbandry development. In order to create food abundance in the country, special attention is paid to the study and implementation of advanced world experience, and to the expansion of international cooperation in this area.
As is known, 2025, declared by the United Nations as the “International Year of Peace and Trust”, is marked by the 30th anniversary of our Fatherland’s acquisition of the status of permanent neutrality, affirming humanistic values such as peace, mutual understanding and friendship.
Attaching importance to strategic partnership with the UN and its specialized structures, Turkmenistan takes an active part in developing balanced solutions to key issues on the regional and global agenda. The specific proposals put forward by our country are aimed at implementing these tasks, designed to promote the optimization and further expansion of multifaceted international cooperation, based on the realities of the time and with a long-term perspective.
In particular, Turkmenistan’s partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is intensifying in such areas as sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex, ensuring food security and environmental protection. This specialized agency of the United Nations supports the efforts of the Turkmen state to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals – from promoting climate-smart agriculture to strengthening food safety systems.
It should be noted that our country has been awarded a special award by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for its achievements in ensuring food security as one of the Millennium Development Goals.
The result of Turkmenistan’s close cooperation with the UN and its specialized agency is also the holding of various events in the country aimed at stimulating regional and international partnership in the food sector. Among them is a jointly developed and implemented project of the technical cooperation program on land cadaster, which allows making informed decisions and promoting sustainable land use methods, ensuring equal access to land resources for all stakeholders.
In addition, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations intends to provide technical assistance to Turkmenistan through initiatives such as “Improving the pasture monitoring system using satellite imagery and geographic information systems”, “Monitoring and assessment of fish stocks”, etc.
In this context, it is important to emphasize the importance of creating the Turkmenistan–UN Strategic Advisory Council, the first meeting of which was held in May 2024 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in a hybrid format.
As part of the Council meeting, documents were signed in the field of environmental protection, healthcare, agriculture, etc. These include: Draft document between the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “Development of digital solutions for sustainable pasture management”; Draft document between the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “Development of the aquaculture feed value chain and the effectiveness of aquatic animal health management”.
It should be noted that to date, a number of Council meetings have been held to adopt decisions that facilitate the further deepening and expansion of bilateral cooperation.
The state has positive experience in implementing fundamental reforms in agriculture, including comprehensive measures to utilize the potential of the agro-industrial complex with maximum efficiency, support agricultural producers, ensure food security, produce high-quality food products, and raises the living standard of the population.
Evidence of this is the Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan, signed in March of this year in order to develop the livestock industry, further improve the provision of the population with meat and dairy products, produce and process livestock products, increase the productivity of farm animals, and strengthen food abundance in the country.
In accordance with the document, the State Association of Livestock and Poultry Industry is authorized to draw up a project for the livestock farm of the Altyn halka State Enterprise, reconstruct existing facilities, build additional buildings and structures, equip them with modern equipment, and purchase the necessary agricultural machinery, inventory, specialized vehicles, and highly productive cattle breeds.
Construction work is scheduled to begin in March 2025 and the livestock farm is to be fully commissioned in March 2026.
State subsidies and tax breaks, including a minimum land fee, serve as a real incentive for farmers. Preferential loans for up to 10 years at 5 percent per annum can be obtained for the implementation of investment projects for the development of livestock and poultry farming, processing and provision of services, as well as for the acquisition of fixed assets and property.
The scientific approach to the development of animal husbandry in the country is evidenced by the activities of Turkmen scientists, who for many years have been addressing the most pressing issues arising in the field of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, and have also facilitating the development of the industry and the introduction of advanced innovative technologies into its production chains.
Recently, numerous research projects have been carried out to preserve and improve the gene pool of farm animals, breed new highly productive breeds, search for effective methods of feeding animals and raising healthy offspring, and protect against various diseases.
Significant progress has been achieved in the field of creating new drugs and establishing their production.
As a result of the work carried out, highly productive types of the Aşgabat Saraja sheep breed and the Sakarçäge breed group of camels have been bred.
Sheep breeding is one of the main areas of activity of the Turkmen people. Wise ancestors developed their own methods of grazing sheep and today this area is developing at the proper level.
Currently, two main breeds of sheep are actively bred in the country – Saraja and Karakul. Increasing the meat productivity of sheep is the basis for increasing the output of food products of animal origin. The wool obtained from them is widely used to create Turkmen carpets, being the national pride of our people.
In our Motherland, camels of the Arvana breed are bred by the Turkmens a long time ago and adapted to local climatic conditions. Pasture and forage resources of the Karakum Desert make it possible to develop this promising industry.
In the era of the Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state, the network of production and the market for camel products are expanding – drinks based on camel milk and the famous wool of these animals.
The state cares about the development of domestic animal husbandry science, industrial cattle breeding, stimulates the formation of applied areas in poultry farming, and provides organizational and financial assistance to entrepreneurs – producers of livestock products. This gives a powerful impetus to the development of private livestock farms.
During a working visit to the Mary velayat on January 12, 2024, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the Maldar livestock farm of the Murghab etrap of the velayat, located on the outskirts of the Karakum desert.
During a conversation with the shepherd, Hero-Arkadag emphasized that food security is currently defined as the most important task in the Fatherland.
Our people, who created the wise saying “A camel is a universal treasure”, especially, value them. Observing these animals, the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty shared with the shepherd knowledge about the benefits of camel milk, chal and agaran made from it, as well as goods made from their wool for human health.
Thanks to the constant attention of the President of the country to improving the agricultural sector, today this industry is harmoniously developing, as a result, the population’s demand for various types of products is satisfied, and food abundance is strengthened.
Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the state will continue to do everything necessary for the productive work of farmers and livestock breeders.
Poultry farming is also developing intensively in our country. Turkmen scientists and specialists are engaged in research work to create their own breeding base of egg and broiler birds, and provide poultry farms with high-quality young animals.
Representatives of the business community are increasingly interested in poultry farming as one of the profitable areas of activity. Today, this industry has the most favorable prospects for creating new enterprises that meet the requirements of the time. Private farms for the production of poultry meat and eggs are successfully operating in the country, and new ones are being built.
As it’s known, the productivity of farm animals and poultry depends on providing them with adequate nutrition, including all the necessary elements and biologically active substances. There is a need for highly nutritious combined feeds, which are a balanced mixture of various feeds, composed according to scientifically sound recipes.
In this regard, a striking example of an integrated approach to increasing the industrial base of food abundance, including through poultry farming, are the enterprises commissioned to produce various types of combined feeds intended for animals and poultry.
The development of animal husbandry is carried out with reliable veterinary support. Turkmen specialists, working in this direction for several decades, introduce into production measures to prevent local animal diseases, preparations for disinfecting livestock and poultry and the premises where they are kept.
A number of preparations developed by our scientists are created on the basis of local mineral raw materials using the medicinal properties of the Turkmen flora, which our country is rich in.
During an enlarged session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, held on February 7, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the Resolution “On approval of the Program for socio-economic development of the country and investments in 2025”.
This document was prepared through the joint efforts of ministries, industry departments, regional administrations, the capital and the city of national importance Arkadag. The program, drawn up on the basis of the seven-year Presidential program and the State Budget for the current year, outlines the planned macroeconomic indicators for 2025, production plans for all segments of the economy, indicators of socio-economic development and investment volumes. It also provides for measures to implement investment policy and improve the social and living conditions of the people.
Thus, in 2025, declared as the “International Year of Peace and Trust” at the initiative of Turkmenistan and commemorated by the celebration of the anniversary date – the 30th anniversary of the permanent neutrality of the Fatherland, qualitatively new frontiers will be reached in the agro-industrial sector.
