BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 18
By Amina Nazarli - Trend:
Turkmenistan plans to increase land for sowing potatoes, vegetables, and melons, Trend reports via Turkmenportal.
This was discussed at a government meeting.
Increase of land for cocoon production by 200 tons is also expected, in accordance with new changes.
Turkmenistan's cotton sown area is 620,000 hectares per year. The new proposal aims to reduce this area to 580,000 hectares.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Esenmyrat Orazgeldiev stated that vacated areas will be used to grow potatoes, vegetable and melon crops. Till now potatoes, vegetables, melons, and other food crops were being planted on 55,550 hectares. It is planned to produce an additional 145 tons of cocoons in the Akhal region, 25 tons in the Balkan region, and 30 tons in the Mary region to increase cocoon production. As a result, cocoon production will reach 2,300 tons.
Summing up the report, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized the importance of successfully resolving the issues of ensuring food abundance in the country, year-round supply of the population with potatoes, vegetables, and melons, as well as other agricultural products produced in the country.
Cotton farming is a key component of Turkmenistan's agro-industrial complex. The country's natural conditions favor the cultivation of medium and fine staple cotton varieties.
The Central Asian country, which has a population of over 5.6 million people, is one of the top ten cotton producers in the world. Cotton is supplied to China, Russia, the UK, South Korea, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Ukraine, and the Baltic countries.
The country is investing millions of dollars in the sector to expand the cotton industry and build textile factories. Turkmenistan harvested 1.25 million tons of cotton in 2021.