OREANDA-NEWS. August 22, 2011.  The winter wheat sowing campaign started in Turkmenistan. As was reported, grain growers in the northern region launched the winter wheat sowing campaign last week on the dates approved by President Gurbanguly at the recent meeting of the Cabinet of Minister. Grain growers in Ahal, Balkan, Lebap and Mary Velayat started sowing winter wheat on August 17. Following the Turkmen leader’s instructions, the ceremonies were held in a solemn atmosphere following the traditions and customs of the Turkmen people.

Turkmen grain growers and farmers have made all the necessary arrangements for the sowing campaign in the year of the 20th anniversary of sacred independence of the Motherland. After the grain harvest campaign was completed, they ploughed and applied fertilizers in agricultural lands prepared for sowing wheat and started to work with enthusiasm. 860,000 hectares of agricultural land will be sown with wheat this year. In 2012 grain growers are to harvest 1.6 million tons, of them 450,000 tons are to be harvested in Ahal Velayat, 380,000 tons in Mary Velayat, 350,000 tons in Lebap Velayat and 120,000 tons in Balkan Velayat.

By the beginning of the sowing campaign grain growers have been provided with necessary agricultural equipment and high quality seeds. According to the Turkmenobahyzmat Association over 4,000 tractors, 1,800 seeding machines and other machines and equipment are engaged in the sowing campaign this year. Thus, Turkmen agricultural workers have necessary conditions and resources to hold the sowing campaign in a proper and timely manner that is an essential factor for reaping the rich harvests.

It should be noted that significant steps are taken in the epoch of new Revival and great reforms to develop agriculture as an important sector of the national economy. The large-scale reforms in the agro-industrial sector have been initiated by the President to bring it to qualitatively new level and ensure an abundance of food products in the country. Modernising and increasing profitability of the agro-industrial sector, widely adopting advanced management methods and promoting agricultural science and actively applying scientific advances and innovative technologies in combination with rich centuries-old farming practices of the Turkmen people are the key aspects of this reform.

High quality seeds of such wheat varieties as Sahrayi, Yoloten-1, Batko, Yubileynay-100, Bitarap, Juvan, Turkmenbashy-1 and Turkmenbashy adapted to soil and climatic conditions of each region will be sown this year.

In this regard it should be noted that the Grain Crops Research Institute affiliated to the Turkmengallaonumlery Association carries out the active work on development of the seed sector and cultivation of highly yielding varieties of wheat, rice and other crops, which are resistant to diseases, pests and adopted well to the local soil and climatic conditions. Currently, Miras soft wheat variety, Ak bash hard wheat variety and Turkmenistan triticale (hybrid cereal produced by crossing wheat and rye) are tested successfully on the experimental field of the Research Institute.

The areas sown with wheat are supplied with mineral and organic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.

The workshops involving representatives of velayat and etrap khyakimliks, the Turkmengallaonumleri Association, the Turkmenobahyzmat Association, the Turkmenstandratlary State Service, the Turkmenhimiya State Concern, the Ministry of Water Industry, agricultural specialists, leaders of farmers associations, agronomists, machine operators, tenant farmers, representatives of the public organisations of the Galkynysh National Movement and the elders were conducted in S. A. Niyazov farmers association in Ak Bugday Etrap, Ahal Velayat, Azadi farmers association in Serdar Etrap, Balkan Velayat, the Lebap farmers association in Hojambaz Etrap, Lebap Velayat and the Ashgabat farmers association in Karakum Etrap, Mary Velayat to mark the launch of the sowing campaign. Those speaking at the seminars presented the reports on practical issues of the agricultural campaign and agro-technical requirements at every stage of wheat production and exchanged experiences.

The seminar participants expressed profound gratitude to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his unceasing concern for agricultural workers and the conditions conducive to constructive labour and dignified life of farmers, who significantly contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of the Motherland and achieving food security for the country. A significant role in implementing the plans to increase wheat production is assigned to Dashoguz Velayat. The popular wisdom is “bread is the staff of life”; bread and bakery staffs have a worthy place on Turkmen sachak. Turkmenistan ranks among the world’s bread wheat exporters today. This has become possible due to the agricultural reform implemented successfully in the country on the initiative and under support of the Turkmen leader. According to the Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan the Turkmengallaonumleri Association is authorized to sell wheat in excess of domestic market demand on foreign market. Thus, the grain sector is one of the export oriented sectors of Turkmen economy.

Following the tradition, the launch of the sowing campaign was blessed by the elders, who together with mullahs offered up a prayer to the Almighty for a rich harvest of heavy-eared ak bugday. The elders threw first seeds in soil with the words “Her bir danan mun bolsun!”, and machine operators driving high powered machines appeared on the fields.

The expositions of agricultural machines and equipment, pesticides and herbicides and agricultural products were arranged in the framework of the workshops. Local singing and dance groups and folk ensembles of velayats performed concerts for workshop participants.