DUSHANBE, January 24, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan plans to have developed 1,159 hectares of new lands in the mountain areas this year, Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources Masaid Homidov announced at news conference in Dushanbe on January 22.
“Under the national program, further 1,837 hectares of lands are scheduled to be developed in 2008 and 3,105 hectares in 2009-2010,” said the minister, “In all, Tajikistan will have developed some 7,000 hectares of lands over the coming four years.”
According to him, 9 million somonis (equivalent to $2.62 million) were provided last year to construct new and rehabilitate the existing irrigation facilities.
The minister said that last year, agrarian sector was provided with 5.8 billion cubic meters of irrigation water for a total amount of some 38 million somonis. Homidov noted that the low rate of the collection of funds from the farming units for water evokes concern. “Water users now owe 68 million somonis to the ministry,” said Homidov,” “For its part, the Ministry of Land Reclamation and Water Resources currently owes some 28 million somonis to Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems).”
