OREANDA-NEWS. March 25, 2011. The cotton sowing campaign started in all regions of Turkmenistan. As is known, during the recent government meeting the Turkmen leader set the date of the beginning of the cotton sowing campaign and noted that following the tradition the agricultural work would be started in all regions on the same day and with the blessing of the elders.

In accordance with the Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan cotton growers throughout the country launched the sowing campaign on March 23. Following the tradition, the elders offered up the prayers for the wellbeing and prosperity of the Motherland and the people of Turkmenistan and blessed the important agricultural campaign. After they threw the first cotton seeds in the soil with the words “Her bir danan mun bolsun!”, the elders gave place to machine-operators, who started up the high-powered machines.

As is known, cultivation of this valuable industrial crop is a priority aspect of the work carried out in the domestic agro-industrial sector. Last year cotton growers exceeded their contractual obligations; they delivered over 1.3 million tons of ‘white gold’ to the receiving points throughout the country. Turkmen cotton growers’ victory as a visible result of the large-scale agricultural reform became possible due to efficient allocation of cotton varieties in compliance with the soil and climatic conditions of the regions, the effective use of natural resources and high-powered agricultural machinery and equipment, mineral fertilizers and high-quality seeds, the timely settlement of accounts with cotton producers, the science-based approach to fulfilling the tasks set to farmers and application of scientific advances in industry. The state policy aimed at improving the welfare and standards of living of rural people set forth in the National Programme for improvement of social and living conditions in settlements, villages and towns in etraps and etrap centres for the period till 2020 is of particular importance in this context. The reforms launched in the line with this programme have covered the most remote regions of our country.

550,000 hectares are to be sown with cotton this year. Before being sown, seeds are treated with chemical agents purchased in the Russian Federation that will protect them from diseases. Cotton growers will pay particular attention to the soil and climatic conditions of each region. Thus, Yoloten-7 middle stapled cotton variety is to be sown in Ahal, Lebap and Mary Velayats, 133 cotton variety – in all velayats except of Dashoguz, where 149F, C-4727, Dashoguz-120 and Serdar middle stapled cotton varieties will be sown. Cotton growers in Lebap and Balkan Velayats sow C-2606middle stapled cotton variety along with the other cotton varieties. Cotton growers in Ahal and Mary Velayats sow 9871-E, Yoloten-14 and Yoloten-32 fine stapled cotton varieties.

According to the Turkmenobahyzmat Association, over 2,200 seeding machines, 35,000 spike-tooth harrows, over 5,000 cotton cultivators and other agricultural machines and equipment, which will be engaged in the sowing campaign, land reclamation and sowing activities, have been prepared for this year’s agricultural campaign.

The workshops focusing on the critical aspects of the ongoing agricultural reform aimed at boosting development and profitability of the domestic agro-industrial sector and raising agricultural output were conducted in the leading farmers associations, including Vatan in Ak Bugday Etrap, Ahal Velayat, Azadi in Serdar Etrpap, Balkan Velayat, Tyaze Guych in Kunya Urgench Etrap, Dashoguz Velayat, Vatan in Serdarabat Etrap, Lebap Velayat and Geoktepe in Bayramali Etrap, Mary Velayat on the eve of the sowing campaign.

The workshop participants, including the heads and officials of the velayat and etrap khyakimliks, the subdivisions of the Turkmenpagta State Concern and the Turkmenhimiya State Concern, the Turkmenobahyzmat Association, the Turkmenstandartlary State Service, Dayhanbank, the public organisations of the Galkynysh National movement, the elders, agronomists, machine operators and cotton growers paid significant attention to the measures to be taken to grow rich harvests, including adherence to the schedule of the sowing campaign and agro-technical requirements, increase in the level of crop yield, reclamation work, efficient use of water resources and mineral fertilizers to protect the areas under crops from pests and weeds.

Workshop participants expressed deep gratitude to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his tireless efforts to develop rural areas and improve the working and living conditions of agricultural workers and assured the Turkmen leader that they would apply all knowledge, experience and effort to implement successfully the large-scale reforms launched throughout the country.

The expositions of agricultural equipment and production of the processing enterprises of the domestic agro-industrial sector were organized within the framework of the workshops. Artists and art groups from the velayats prepared their musical present for cotton growers.