In his speech at the session of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan last September, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has highlighted that large-scale work has been carried in the country for the years of independence for construction of modern state with rapidly developing economy, formation of fair civic society, making of of favourable life conditions.
Speaking of success achieved in various sectors of the economy, the Head of the State has noted that big work was carried out in the country for turning agriculture into high technological branch, which is open for innovative solutions and ideas.
First, it is necessary to use the potential of digital system efficiently for improvement of work productivity in agriculture and provision of stable development of the branch, Turkmen leader said.
Today, the government makes all conditions for farmers to produce high yields of wheat, cotton, rice, beetroot and other agricultural crops providing food abundance in the country.
It is worth to mention that first session of the People’s Council in 2018 was an important milestone in development of agrarian sector. Speaking at national forum, the Head of the State outlined current objectives, which are to bring national agricultural complex to new levels, in his program speech.
It includes improvement of profitability of agriculture, rational use of land and water resources, improvement of soil conditions of agricultural fields, their provision with irrigation water, wide introduction of market mechanisms and attraction of private entrepreneurs to the industry.
The Resolution of Further Improvement of Reforms in Agriculture, which is steadily implemented these days, was an important step in solution of set objectives.Thus, back in October 2018, the Head of the State has approved the volumes of special land fund of agricultural purpose, which were established from the lands of agricultural association, from which land plots are handed over to joints stock ventures of Turkmenistan, farms, other legal entities and individuals to long-term lease up to 99 years.
In first case, not less than 70 percent of allocated agricultural fields have to be used for cultivation of wheat, cotton and other agricultural crops from the state order on contractual basis.
The remaining lands can be sown with other crops for scientifically based crop rotation.Land plots given from the second fund are designated for cultivation of vegetable and cucurbitaceous crops, potato, grape and fruits.
At the same time, excess of crops produced above contractual obligations on land plots allocated from special land fund can be left with producer or sold to the government at the state procurement prices according to Turkmenistan’s legislation.
According to the Resolution of the Head of the State, the government procurement price on wheat, cotton and services of enterprises related to cultivation of these crops have been increased starting from 2019 harvest for improvement of productivity of crops and stimulation of producers.
Staged privatization of livestock farms together with cattle, sheep, camels and birds on the balance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Protection is carried out. Land plots are allocated to these farms in set order.
The President of Turkmenistan has also signed the Resolution on Financial Support of Agricultural Producers in the country. according to the document, farming association, agricultural joint stock ventures and scientific and research institutes, tenants, private entrepreneurs and other agricultural producers are entitled for beneficial bank loans up to 10 years.
It includes loans for procurement of agricultural equipment, mechanisms and tools, excavators and bulldozers, irrigation equipment and pipes with 1 percent interest rate and loans for financing of investment projects related to development of livestock and poultry farming with 5 percent interest rate up to 10 years.
The policy on reformation of national agricultural complex is aimed at strengthening of food abundance, modernization of the industry on innovative basis, increment of profitability and brining of competitive production to the world markets. For this purpose, modern hothouse farms, cold stores, livestock complexes, agricultural processing facilities are built in all regions of the country.
Significant resources are invested to establishment of modern agricultural infrastructure according to priorities of the state policy, which is to support integrated development of the regions and provision of food abundance in the country.
Work for provision of the population with sufficient quantity of meat, milk, eggs and other livestock production, for attraction of private producers to this sector is carried out. At the same time, big livestock and poultry complexes are put into operation in the country, agricultural fields are allocated for improvement of forage base of these complexes.
Various agricultural equipment, vehicles and tools from the world famous producers is purchased for further strengthening of equipment and facility base of the industry, which supports timely and qualitative work completion.
Increment of variety and quantity of agricultural equipment, tools and vehicles, which meet modern world standards, makes conditions for improvement of work quality, increment of land productivity, receiving high yields, provision of food abundance in the country.
At the same time, it was not only production but also social infrastructure, which received new impulse for development for the years of implementation of the Program, which was developed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for regional development.
Life of rural population becomes more comfortable every year and their wealth is growing.Rural area is coming closer to city by level and quality of life.
All of these is a visual evidence of successful implementation of socially oriented policy of Turkmen leader, which core is brightly reflected in slogan “The State for Human Being!”.
Initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan proposed at the UN Sustainable Development Conference Rio+20 in 2012, the UN Summit on Sustainable Development under the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in 2015 as well as other big international forums are aimed at achievement of the global sustainable development goals.
One of the 17 goals provides that support of sustainable development of agriculture while another rational use of water resources.
Provision of dynamic growth of the economy by efficient and rational use of natural resources, making of favorable life conditions of Turkmen people, consolidation of international efforts in achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals are among the main goals of natural protection strategy, which is steadily implemented by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Having active position in solution of current modern issues, Turkmenistan stands for intensification and expansion of fruitful partnership in the format of the UN, International Fund for Saving of Aral Sea, other competent organizations and structures trying to support optimization of cooperation on the subjects worrying entire humankind.
Initiatives made by the President of Turkmenistan at the UN Sustainable Development Conference Rio+20, the UN Summit for Sustainable Development after 2015, which was held under the 70th session of the UN General Assembly and other big international forums are aimed at this.
It includes the proposal on opening of the Regional Center of Technologies related to the climate change in Central Asia in Ashgabat as well as on development of special UN Program for Saving of Aral Sea and the UN Water Strategy.
Constructive position and steadfast measures undertaken by Turkmenistan in this direction find wide support of the world community.This is indicated by the Resolutions on Cooperation between the United Nations Organization and International Fund for Saving of Aral Sea, first of which has been unanimously adopted at the 82nd meeting of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in April 2018 while another at the 85th meeting of the 73rd session of the General Assembly in May 2019.
These documents were important measures on the way of formation of legal base for cooperation between the UN and IFAS on systematic base. Chairing this international structure in 2017 2019, Turkmenistan has organized and held number of important events aimed at implementation of goals and objectives of the Fund.
Full water provision of agriculture is also one of important objectives. The government makes big investments for stocking of additional supplies of water in the country, improvement of water supply to agricultural fields, increment of throughput capacity of rivers, irrigation and drain networks, for procurement of modern water management equipment and dredgers.
In this context, implementation of the project of construction of Altyn Asyr Turkmen Lake, which is designated for collection of drain water from irrigated lands of all five regions of the country, has special significance.
At present time, works are carried out for increment of throughput capacity of the Main collector and Dashoguz line, construction of technical facilities and bridges, fortification of moving sand along water courses under the second phase of this grandiose project, which makes favorable effect on ecology of Central Asia.
In addition to improvement of soil condition of agricultural fields, the reserve of water has been made, which owing to natural filtration and application of modern technologies can be used for requirements of agricultural complex including for development of new lands, expansion of pastures as well as for irrigation of plantations and technical needs.
The lake has already become a habitat for migrating birds. Biological diversity of ecosystem includes around 250 birds, 25 fish species and many animals from the Red Book of Turkmenistan.
Ground breaking ceremony of social and production complex of new type in the area of Altyn Asyr Turkmen Lake in Serdar district, Balkan Region, which took place in May with participation of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, is among remarkable events of 2019.
Construction of modern villages on the bank of unique aquatic facility will give impulse to development of desert lands and will allow developing livestock farming, crop production and fishery.
The Concept of development of Altyn Asyr Lake region in 2019 2025, which implementation presents exclusive importance not only from economic but also ecological point of view, is aimed at this.
Water diplomacy, which was specified by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the priorities of foreign policy of Turkmenistan, implies not only long-term cooperation in this vital important sphere but also direct development of own advanced practices, which efficiency can serve to entire humankind.
Big investment projects accomplished under the General Program of provision of settlements of Turkmenistan with pure drinking water and Program of Works for rational use of water resources in Turkmenistan and improvement of throughput capacity of Karakum River in 2015 2020 are the evidence of unremitting attention of the Head of the State to these subjects.
Tree planting program, which involved entire country, is also colossal by scales. In September 2019, the Head of the State has approved new edition of National Strategy of Turkmenistan on climate change, which has been elaborated taking into account the UN Strategy until 2030 and Paris Treaty on Climate Change.
The President of Turkmenistan has made special mention at the session of the People’s Council this year that scientific and research institutes of the country have to select and regularly introduce high-productive, early and disease resistant new species of cotton, grain, vegetable and cucurbitaceous crops, fruits trees as well as other crops to production.
Allocating of the species according to soil and climate conditions of the regions, development of biotechnological methods of flora and fauna protection are also important works, which are to give new impulse to development of our economy on innovative base.
Following set objectives, the scientists as well as specialists of the State Service for Seed Production and Species Tests under the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Protection carry out relative work for improvement of productivity of agricultural crops, introduction of scientifically based crop rotation, increment of agricultural production.
It is worth to mention that profile universities, which train specialists of agricultural complex, permanently improves educational programs and plans, introduce innovative technologies, which are current in the context of the strategy of digitization.
Turkmen Agricultural University and Turkmen Agricultural Institute work actively with prestige universities of Europe, Asia and USA as well as with leading companies. In particular, the studies on priority directions of agrarian science are carried out.
The activity is carried out for introduction of management through digital electronic systems, in which regard the best practices of development of agrarian education and science, expansion of informational and consultation services are studied.
Therefore, it can be stated that national agricultural complex is developed rapidly providing food abundance at the markets of the country, steadfast growth of wealth of rural workers and intensification of private sector potential.
Esenmurad Orazgeldiyev, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.