KULOB, September 18, 2008, Asia-Plus — On Thursday September 18, the field office of international organization (UK) in Kulob conducted a training on biological farming.
Nouriddin Abdurahmonov, agronomist with Oxfam Tajikistan, told Asia-Plus that they have a pilot cell of 0.5 hectare in the territory of the farming unit Ibrat in the Vose district. According to him, part of the cell has been sown with ecologically clean cotton and the other part has been sown with vegetables.
“The Ibrat head Abdusamad Mahmadqulov was the first in the district to allot land for biological farming,” the agronomist said, noting Oxfam now has three plots 2 hectares each for growing ecologically clean farm produce in Kulob (vegetables), Temourmalik (melons, watermelons and gourds) and Qumsangir (cotton) districts.
“It is just the beginning; in 2009, we plan to develop the biological farming on 200 hectares in the Khatlon province,” Abdurahmonov said.
Biological farming is a chemical free method of farming that focuses on improving the microbiology as a way of increasing plant growth and produce yield. Biological farming includes organic farming and biodynamic farming. Biological farming methods present a viable way of producing high quality, nutritious produce without the use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides or gene modification.
Biological farming also ensures that no salt-based additives are applied directly to the soil – it relies on techniques of aerated compost and actively aerated compost tea (for large-scale applications or where living compost is not available).
Biological farming works with natural systems and methods to build optimum soil, plant and animal health, while incorporating the best of conventional farming methods to maintain production levels and quality. Ultimately it also looks for outcomes in food nutrition and improved ecosystems.
