Speaking at a joint meeting of both chamber of parliament, President Emomali Rahmon noted on December 23 that the sensitive situation of today's world, in particular, “the severe food shortage in a quarter of the world's countries, urges us to take additional measures to achieve our strategic goal on food security.”
“In recent years, despite the negative impact of external shocks, the constant drought, and restriction of food exports by some countries, we maintained food security and the abundance of the domestic market with agricultural products thanks to the everyday efforts of the country's dedicated farmers,” Rahmon said.
According to him, the production of grains reached 1.6 million tons, potatoes – 1million tons, and fruits and vegetables – 3.2 million tons in 2022.
Over the past five years, an average annual growth of agricultural production has reportedly been maintained at the rate of 7.0 percent and it has increased 1.4 times.
Over the same five year period, the production of poultry meat has increased 8 times and its import decreased 11 times.
The president further noted that the reclamation situation of 50 000 hectares of land has been improved over the past five years; 13,000 hectares of new land has been developed and 23,000 hectares of abandoned abundant agricultural land has been resumed into operation over the reporting period.
“The country’s farmers have improved their practices on land management, particularly in the area of secondary sowings and extra harvest, based on the advice provided to them and the area of secondary cultivation lands increased from 90,000 hectares to 213,000 hectares,” Rahmon said, noting that according to the available data, 85% of the country's arable lands are irrigated, which also provides more than 90% of the total crop produced in the country.
At the same time, more than 40% of irrigated land reportedly depends on the operation of pump stations.
“In this regard, with a view to increasing the production of agricultural output Ministry of Agriculture, State Committee for Land Management and Geodesy, Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the executive authorities of the provinces, districts and towns have to pay an utmost attention to the improvement of the state of land reclamation, renovation and reconstruction of irrigation facilities,” said Rahmon. “To this end, draft medium-term state program on development of new irrigated lands and restoration of abandoned agricultural land should be developed and submitted to the Government of the country.”
He noted that the Directorate of Geology and the Academy of Agricultural Sciences need to comprehensively study the available mineral resources and make substantiated proposals to the Government regarding the possibilities of their use for the production of mineral fertilizers in the country.
Also, the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies jointly with the executive authorities of provinces, towns and districts, and entrepreneurs need to undertake actions required for establishing mineral fertilizer production enterprises, the president added.
