OREANDA-NEWS. November 24, 2009. The winter wheat sowing campaign completed in Turkmenistan. In the country the wheat plantations occupy over 860,000 hectares. The first stage of the important agricultural campaign aimed at ensuring the plenty of food products on the domestic market has been completed. It was launched to achieve the goals of the large-scale agricultural reform initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

In the new agricultural season that will be an examination for the effectiveness for the agricultural sector the awesome responsibility lies with Turkmen grain growers. In 2010 Turkmen grain growers are to grow 1.6 million tons of ak bugday – in Ahal Velayat - 450,000 tons, in Mary Velayat - 380,000 tons, in Lebap Velayat - 350,000 tons, in Dashoguz Velayat - 300,000 tons and in Balkan Velayat - 120,000 tons.

The agricultural fleet consisting of over 10,000 ploughing tractors and tractor-cultivators, 1,800 sowing machines and 500 Belarus-82.2 and 1,000 Belarus-80X tractors is engaged in the campaign.

The domestic varieties such as Sahrayi, Juvan and Yoloten-1 and the varieties delivered from Stavropol Kray (Russian Federation) – Batko and Yubileynaya-100, which are perfectly adapted to the local soil and climatic conditions, are sown in the country.

The key principles of the large-scale reforms launched in the agro-industry sector include zoning of agricultural crops in accordance with the soil and climatic conditions of each region, adoption of scientific advances and innovations developed by foreign and local specialists and technology modernization of the agricultural sector. Special attention is paid to creating material incentives and encouraging farmers’ interest in the results of their work. An increase of the farmers’ wellbeing along with improvement of the social and living conditions in rural areas enhance the prestige of the profession of grain grower and make it called-for.

Nowadays, the tasks set to Turkmen grain growers are to comply with agrotechnical standards and requirements at all the stages of crop cultivation, apply advanced agricultural technologies in practice and raise the level of winter crop yield. Land reclamation, efficient use of water resources and restoration of soil fertility play an important role in increasing grain production in Turkmenistan. In addition, for these purposes over dozens of thousands of hectares of virgin lands will be developed within the next few years.

Thus, the winter wheat sowing campaign that laid the firm foundation for a future rich harvest and contributes to ensuring food security of the country and implementing the large-scale rural reforms in the epoch of new Revival is completed.