(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 9. trend news agency presents a brief overview of key events in Tajikistan's agriculture
sector in 2022.
Tajikistan on the road to digital
agriculture
A training workshop 'Towards the development of a roadmap for
the digitalization of agriculture in Tajikistan', organized by the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), took
place in Dushanbe in November 2022.
Participants shared experiences and opinions on a vision for
digital agriculture in Tajikistan that will guide the development
of a national roadmap to transition to a more sustainable and
productive agricultural sector.
Additionally, they had an opportunity to learn directly from
renowned experts from the Republic of Korea about digital
agriculture policies and smart farm innovations implemented in
Korea.
According to the Deputy Head of the Department of Tajikistan's
Ministry of Agriculture Shamsiddin Soliev, the development of
digital agriculture is more relevant than ever, and the
modernization of the agricultural sector is increasingly associated
with the development of digitalization and innovation.
He noted that Tajikistan's strategy is aimed at high indicators
of the development of the agro-industrial sector that cannot be
accomplished without appropriate digital solutions.
Tajikistan constructing agricultural enterprise in
Khujand city
Construction of an agricultural enterprise for the processing of
vegetables and fruits is underway on the territory of the
industrial zone of Tajikistan's Khujand city. Currently, in the
administrative center of the Sughd region - the city of Khujand,
special attention is paid to the construction of new production
enterprises. The initiator of the construction is the company 'Doro
Invest'.
Upon commissioning of the Doro Invest LLC enterprise, up to 90
tons of local fruits and vegetables will be processed here every
month. In the first stage, the company's management will provide
jobs for 120 people. Future plans include employing up to 300
people.
Meanwhile, according to the plan of the Khujand mayor's office,
by 2026, 590 objects for various purposes will be built and put
into operation in the city.
Fruit farming industry in Tajikistan rapidly developing
- ministry
The Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan has reported that the
fruit farming industry is rapidly developing in Tajikistan this
year. As of December 2, 2022, Tajik farmers have collected 260,682
tons of fruits, which is 63,314 tons more than last year.
In particular, 154,277 tons of grapes were collected throughout
the country, which is 43,122 tons more than in 2021. To date, the
harvest of grapes is 75,628 tons in districts under Central
Government Jurisdiction, 42,415 tons in the Sughd region, and
36,234 tons in the Khatlon region.
FAO launches new agricultural project in
Tajikistan
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) and Tajikistan's state institution Agricultural
Entrepreneurship Development Project Management Unit launched a new
agricultural project in November 2022.
Under this new project, which is funded by the World Bank (WB),
technical assistance will be provided to Tajikistan to strengthen
the resilience of the agriculture sector.
The objectives of the project are to increase the resiliency of
the agricultural sector and to enable it to transition to a more
sustainable, productive, climate-resilient, and inclusive
model.
FAO will focus on key technical support areas, such as improving
public agricultural services by strengthening Tajikistan's seed
system through improved access to seeds and seedlings.
FAO to help Tajikistan boost its exports on world
markets
Tajikistan will join the Food and Agriculture Organization's
(FAO) 'One Country One Priority Product' to promote its apricots on
the world markets, National Technical Officer on Food Security and
Nutrition at FAO Ibrohim Ahmadov announced in December.
He noted joining the One Country - One Priority Product project,
which was launched by the FAO Director-General in 2021, will help
promote Tajik products at world markets at better prices.
According to Ahmadov, Tajikistan is currently increasing the
export of not only fresh apricots but also receiving more profit
from the production and sale of dried fruits abroad.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture reported that Tajikistan
holds one of the leading places in the region in terms of the area
of apricot orchards - 59,125 hectares. During this year, a total
of 128,000 tons of apricots were produced across the country.
International cooperation: Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia
to establish joint ventures in agriculture
Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia will establish joint enterprises for
the manufacturing of fruit juices and dried fruits, with further
export of products to the markets of Saudi Arabia and other
countries, the Ministry of Agriculture reported in July.
At the same time, the two countries will strive to cooperate in
the construction of greenhouses, warehouses and cold stores for
storing fruits and vegetables, as well as start honey exports from
Kyrgyzstan to Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture of Tajikistan, Saadi
Karimzoda, noted that the current priority goals are the
implementation of investment programs and projects in order to
boost agricultural products' turnover and increase Tajikistan's
export potential.
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan considering implementation of
agricultural projects
Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan Kakhramon Yuldashev
met with the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Uzbekistan Abdujabbor
Rahmonzoda on October 26, 2022.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the dynamics of
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan's strategic partnership in agriculture,
as well as a number of promising projects.
Yuldashev and Rahmonzoda considered a project to create modern
greenhouse complexes and an intensive garden in the Gissar district
of Tajikistan on an area of 5 hectares, the cost of which will be
about $3.3 million.
Particular attention was also paid to the opening of an
Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) representative
office in Tajikistan's Sughd region.
On the basis of this AKIS representative office, it is planned
to conduct training seminars for Tajik scientists, specialists and
farmers on teaching innovative agricultural technologies for
growing fruits and vegetables, and modern irrigation methods.
Belarusian agricultural company to supply tractors to
Tajikistan
Belorussian Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) signed contracts with
companies from Tajikistan for $11 million in October 2022.
On the sidelines of the Tajikistan-Belarus business forum, which
was held on October 11, the agreements were signed between the
General Director of MTZ Vitaly Vovk and the heads of Tajik Madadi
Tursunzoda and Agrotechservice companies.
Under these agreements, a total of 170 tractors worth about $4
million will be delivered to Madadi Tursunzoda and 320 tractors
worth more than $7 million to Agrotechservice.
As reported, from January through September 2021, Belorussian
Minsk Tractor Works delivered about 370 tractors to Tajikistan.
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Tajikistan's agriculture sector contributes to about 20
percent of the national GDP and employs approximately 45 percent of
the population. Tajikistan's agriculture is characterized by two
farming systems determined by its geography, where potato and wheat
farming, along with horticulture is taking place in the country's
uplands, while irrigated cotton dominates in the lowlands.