The land improvement related issues and the approaches to improvement of the effective use of irrigated areas were put on the agenda of the scientific and practical conference at the S. A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University. The forum organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Industry, Ministry of Education and the administration of the Agricultural University institute on occasion of the national holiday A Drop of Water - A Grain of Gold brought together the representatives of the ministries and departments, the scientists of the research institutes and the leading agricultural specialists of the country.

The greeting address of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov to water industry and agricultural workers of Turkmenistan was presented at the plenary meeting of the forum. The inspiring words of the Turkmen leader’s address vividly testified to the concern for the needs of water industry.

The forum participants noted that from ancient times the Turkmen people highly valued water and developed the skills to use it efficiently. From the first years of independence the concern for the important sector of national economy ranked among the priorities of the national policy and was reflected in a number of the large-scale projects including those of particular importance - construction of the main drain systems and the unique artificial lake in the Karakum Desert. The reports presented at the conference highlighted on the fundamental agricultural reforms initiated by the President of Turkmenistan. The existing and newly-built drinking water plants under construction in Ashgabat and the administrative centers, the high-powered desalinating plants under construction on the Caspian Sea coast, the use of advances technologies including trickle irrigation as well as procurement of up-to-date equipment produced by the leading manufacturers was the outcomes of the water management policy implemented in the country.

The artists of the Altyn Asyr Students’ Cultural Center performed a concert for the conference participants upon concluding the plenary meeting.

Over 50 reports covering various aspects of development of the agricultural sector were discussed in the sections. The participants focused on the necessity of further intensifying the research in designing the land improvement programme.