OREANDA-NEWS. August 10, 2009. On the second Sunday of August each year the Turkmen people celebrate the national holiday – Turkmen Melon Day. On this day the country renders homage to diligence and talent of melon, water melon and gourd growers – the successors of the traditions renowned for ages, which are maintained in a worthy manner in the new historical epoch. The colourful fairs and exhibitions demonstrating imperishable generosity of the native land are arranged throughout the country to mark this wonderful and bright holiday. The celebrations centre in the capital of our country – white-marble Ashgabat, reported the Official website turkmenistan.gov.tm.

The conference Turkmenistan – the homeland of sweet melons was held at the Turkmen Agricultural University. The forum organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food Industry Association and the University administration brought together the representatives of the public organisations – members of the Galkynysh National Movement, agrarian scientists, specialists of the research institutes, renowned melon growers and breeders and students.

The conference participants emphasized that to achieve the goals of the agricultural reform initiated by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov the large-scale work involving the subdivisions of the agro-industry sector had been launched in the country. New opportunities were opened up to develop melon growing – the traditional sector of agricultural industry in Turkmenistan where the profound experience accumulated over centuries, advanced technologies and scientific advances were applied.

During the conference sections the participants presented dozens of the reports dedicated to breeding and cultivation of new varieties of melons and gourds and the recent research results in this field. The reports on the history of melon growing in Turkmenistan and the healing properties of melons, water melons and gourds known to the healers from ancient times were of particular interest.

The issues of further development of the sector, increase of crop yield of water melons, melons and gourds, improvement of the cultivation and processing technologies and protection of crops from pests, diseases, etc were the focus of the discussions.

In the framework of the forum the valuable presents were presented on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan to the elders, who had arrived in the capital from different regions of the country.

The conference participants adopted the Address to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and expressed profound gratitude to the Turkmen leader for the unceasing concern for the needs of agricultural workers assuring that Turkmen farmers would spare no effort for the benefit and wellbeing of the beloved Motherland.

An exhibition dedicated to the achievements of the agricultural sector of Turkmenistan was arranged in the foyer of the University. The exhibits included melons, water melons and gourds of the impressive size and forms.

The artists of the Altyn Asyr Cultural Centre of S. A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University had prepared a present for the holiday.

In the evening the Turkmen Melon Day celebrations moved to the Altyn Asyr Park in the capital where the workers of culture and art performed a big concert.