OREANDA-NEWS. June 16, 2009. Turkmen rice-growers started the 2009 sowing campaign. Upon agricultural specialists’ recommendations the geography of cultivation of this valuable crop was changed this season. The total area of the rice plantations and the rice harvesting plan were left without a change.

This year rice will be sown only in four etraps of Lebap and Dashoguz Velayats with the most favourable climatic conditions. This decision will allow using water resources efficiently.

Rice-growers of S. A. Niyazov and October 27 farmers associations in Dashoguz Velayat are planning to harvest 31 tones of ‘pearl grain’ on the 8,000-hectare area.

In Lebap Velayat the rice plantations occupy 10,000 hectares. Eight farmers associations of the Amu Darya Valley, the specialists of the Sayat Etrap scientific production centre, all 12 farmers associations in Serdarabat Etrap and nine associations of Karabekaul Etrap are planning to deliver 39,000 tones to the receiving points.

At present, the 3,000 hectares are sown with rice. High-powered John Deer, Case and MTZ-1221 tillage tractors provided by the subdivisions of Turkmenobahyzmat Association are engaged in the sowing campaign that allows accelerating the pace of agricultural works. The favourable conditions have been created for rice-growers who work round-the-clock.

This year Turkmengallaonumlery Association has concluded the agreements with agricultural workers for production of 70,000 tones of rice on the 18,000-hectare areas. The accounts with farmers will be settled at the purchasing price raised in accordance with the Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan – 900 denominated manats per ton.