OREANDA-NEWS. April 04, 2011. The two-day International Conference on “Achievements of Science and Advance Technologies for Restoration of Saline Lands and Irrigation Systems Operation Efficiency Improvement” was conducted in the conference hall of the Turkmen Agricultural University. The forum organized by the Ministry of Water Industry and the Academy of Sciences brought together over a hundred of Turkmen and foreign scientists and experts from fifteen countries of the world and representatives of a number of the international organisations, sectoral departments of our country and journalists.

The intense interest in this forum is based on Turkmenistan’s growing role in the global efforts to manage water resources effectively and address the environmental problems of the region and the constructive foreign policy initiatives put forward by our country in this sphere.

The important topics under discussion included restoration of saline lands, water efficient technologies and efficient use of water and land resources, integrated water resources management. The presentations on the prospects for further development of the agro-industry sector of Turkmen economy in the light of new water projects aimed at implementing the potential of this sector aroused keen interest of the conference participants. As is known, our country has made great progress in effective water resources management and utilization of drainage collector waters. The construction of the Altyn Asyr Turkmen Lake will enable to develop vast tracts of virgin lands in the heart of one of the greatest deserts in the world.

The ongoing reforms in this sphere are aimed at ensuring efficient use of water resources, promoting the research activities on preservation of the fertility of the soil, increase in the effectiveness of the agro-industry sector and the level of crop capacity, efficient use of land and water resources, application of advanced irrigation techniques, including trickle irrigation and sprinkler irrigation, in industry. The research institutions of the country such as Turkmensyvylymtaslama Institute of the Ministry of Water Industry, the research institutes of the Academy of Sciences, the Research Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Turkmen Agricultural University and a number of the research institutes carry out the fruitful activity in this sphere. The provided scientists and experts from different countries with an opportunity to study the positive results achieved by Turkmen counterparts and promote a fruitful exchange of views.

A large-scale exposition arranged in the framework of the scientific forum in the foyer of the Turkmen Agricultural University showcased the achievements of the domestic water industry, the agro-industry sector and Turkmen science. The models of the large-scale hydraulic facilities and desalination units to be built in the network of the Turkmen Lake and the collections of different varieties of agricultural crops grown in our country were of particular interest to the guests. A section of the exposition spotlighted the progress in implementing the large-scale planting programme that become possible through the use of such progressive methods as trickle irrigation.

The discussions of the water resources management took place during the conference sections. The best international practices and advanced research in the water industry spotlighted in the reports of the conference participants aroused intense interest. The important issues put on the conference agenda included development and application of state-of-the-art methods for restoration of saline lands in industry, adoption of water efficient technologies and efficient use of water and land resources, integrated water resources management and innovations in the water industry.

The delegates of the conference took part in the celebrations in honour of the national holiday “A Drop of Water – A Grain of Gold”. It is symbolic that the holiday dedicated to life-giving water appeared in Turkmenistan and have a remarkable place in the national calendar of the national holidays. In our country considerable attention is attached to sparing use of priceless water. An effective, well thought-out approach to using water resources, reclamation of land, adopting advanced irrigation technologies underlie the strategy for development of the agro-industry and other important sectors of the national economy.

The participants noted that forum had contributed to a fruitful exchange of experiences among scientists from different countries in the sphere of irrigation techniques, effective water resources management and preservation of the fertility of the soil. The forum participants highly evaluated the large-scale goal-oriented projects launched in the Turkmen state to ensure efficient use of water resources and sparing use of every drop of life-giving moisture.