Ï Improvement of food abundance is important factor of economic policy of Turkmenistan
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Improvement of food abundance is important factor of economic policy of Turkmenistan

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Big success was achieved in the agriculture owing to integrated reforms in this sphere, realization of the State Programme of import substitutive production, comprehensive support of private sector of the economy, medium and small business.

The share of agricultural production made in Turkmenistan in total volume of the GDP increased for 5.1 percent for 11 months of 2017 comparing with the same period of the last year. Particularly, the growth rate of flour production reached 104.7 percent, pastry – 108.7 percent, meat – 101 percent, vegetables – 101.7 percent, cucurbitaceous – 105.3 percent.

In addition, the enterprises of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs made agricultural and food production for 1 billion 312 million manats for 11 months of the year and the growth rate made 131.9 percent.

The issues of the development of food production sector, satisfaction of population demand for wide variety of quality food items is always under attention of the President. The State Commission on Food Security was established for the efficient solution.

It is worth reminding that in 2015, our country received special award of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for the achievements in provision of food security as one of the Goal of Sustainable Development in the third millennium. The abundance and variety of local products in shopping centre and markets in these New Year days, both in capital and all velayats of the country, indicate the successful solution of the objectives for production of import substitutive goods including food items.

The list of goods produced by State and private enterprises of domestic food industry includes milk, various cheeses, yogurt, ice-cream, sour milk and cream, various meat items, bakeries and confectionaries, fresh and canned fruits and vegetables, fish, juices and drinks, mayonnaise, baby food, honey, ketchup and tomato paste made from natural local products and other.

Agricultural complex is one of the ley sectors of the economy, which dynamic development is supported by thorough strategy of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, which is oriented to comprehensive support of domestic producers. Systematic measures were taken for the last several years aimed at the improvement of the competiveness, technical and technological rearmament of agricultural complex.

Formation of new economic relations, creation of competitive environment for various business entities, rational use of land and water resources, natural protection, development of agrarian science, selection, wide implementation of innovations, advanced marketing and management methods and solution of social issues are the main aspects of large-scale agrarian reforms.

As it has already been mentioned there were many things achieved in this sphere. Turkmen farmers deliver big crops harvests not only supplying the local market and providing food independence of the country but also consolidating the position as the exporter of such strategic agricultural crop as food wheat. Actual measures have been taken for the diversification of agriculture. Live-stock and poultry farming, vegetable and fruit, melon and water melon growing, winegrowing and other agrarian branches are developed together with crops and cotton production.

Therefore, the main focus was made on the construction of hothouse farms, mills, bakeries, pastry, meat and dairy, oil, cheese and sausages production facilities under successfully realization of the Programme of the President on Social and Economic Development of the country in 2012 – 2016 and other related programmes.

Private sector of the economy, which share in agriculture has already exceeded 90 percent, is actively involved in realization of these programmes. State and private partnership is very successful in such traditional for Turkmenistan sphere as livestock farming. One of the examples is large livestock farming complex built in on the territory of Abadan Farmers Association by Sahabatly Business Entity in Ahal velayat, which was opened in 2015 with the participation of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Its production output is 2 thousand tons of milk and dairy products and 30 tons of meat production per year. 9 hectares of land for construction of the farm and 400 hectares for growing of clover, corn, barley and other forage crops have been allocated.

In addition, modern facility for production of forage enriched with nutrition additives and livestock farm for breeding of young livestock have been put into operation in Ahal Velayat.

Livestock complex with annual production 20 thousand tons of dairy and 100 tons of meat production operates in Baharly etrap. It specializes in production high quality beef. Another livestock facility with 100 tons of meat products per year was built in the same region.

Similar complex was built in Dashoguz. It is designated for breeding of 500 cattle and annual production of 2 thousand tons of milk and 120 tons of meat per year.

Integrated approach allowing minimizing the expenses, starting from the cultivation of forage crops, production and purchase of the additives until the processing of meat and half-made products is character feature of new enterprises. The efficiency of full production circle taken as the basis by local agrarian companies allows increasing the quality of production and profitability of the enterprises.

At present time, new livestock farms with production out of 200 tons each per year are under construction in Ahal, Lebap and Mary Velayat. These facilities are built by the order of the State Association of Food Industry. They are planned to be commissioned in June 2018.

At the same time, poultry received strong impulse in its development. There are many visual examples in this sphere including Gush Toplumy Complex in Ahal Velayat, poultry complexes in Bereket etrap, Balkan Velayat and Bayrmaly etrap, Mary Velayat, which production is on very high demand.

Increment of the production of ecologically friendly goods, supply of the vitamins to the citizens of the country event in winter is the main social objective of hothouse farming direction of the development of agricultural complex of the country, supporting which, the State makes all conditions for considerable acceleration of the processes of import substitution in this field, for implementation of innovations in plant growing, for actual support of domestic farming as well as for the export of green production to neighbouring countries.

The construction of hothouses, which are able to provide the population of cities and villages with fruits and vegetables all year around, is expanded in all regions of Turkmenistan. They are built by domestic entrepreneurs, who see the profitability and high economic effect of such business projects. Retail sale networks and catering facilities require fresh and quality products. Hothouse farms gives the opportunity to have good profits regardless of the season.

This year, new hothouse farm was opened in Dovletly Farmers Association located in Dashoguz Velayat. This large complex was built by Altyn Gala Gurlushyk Individual Enterprises, the member of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of the country. It is planned to gather 800 tons of various breeds of tomatoes per year, which springs are to be grown in the hothouse.

The facility including two plants for production of canned fruits and vegetables and soft drinks and drinking water successfully operates in Baharly etrap, Ahal Velayat. Pear, apple, cherry, plum, peach, apricot and wine trees were planted on 100 hectares of Murche Farmers Association. It has hothouse farm supplying vegetables and fruits to shopping outlets of the capital.

Relative infrastructure for the provision of storage of meat and dairy production, fruits and vegetables is created all around the country. New refrigerating warehouses with automated and mechanized processes were built in Ashgabat, Dashoguz, Mary and Turkmenbashy. Modern food product warehouses are provided with modern equipment, loading and offloading machines and lifting mechanisms.

Development of fishery where domestic entrepreneurs have considerably improved their positions supports the growth of the volumes of import substitution in food segment of national economy.

Thus, opening of sturgeon breeding, production of caviar and fish products complex built by Hazar Balyk JSC of the UIET in administration centre of Turkmenbashy etrap in September 2015 with the participation of Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was remarkable event. Year output of the facility is 100 tons of sturgeon species of fish and 2 tons of sturgeon caviar, 170 tons of smoked, dried and other fish production as well as 10 million of canned products.

Similar complex for breeding of sturgeons, carps and catfishes with year output of 20, 10 and 60 tons accordingly works in Ak Bugday etrap, Ahal Velayat.

It is worth adding that sea fishery fleet in the Caspian has been supplemented with new fishery boats with 100 tons cargo capacity and refrigerating holds.

It is necessary to note that the volumes of food items produced by the farmers on personal farms are systematically increased. Modern new type villages built in all velayats are rather exemplary in this aspect. Every house has 12 – 16 acres of land that can be used for planting the garden or built necessary household facilities for poultry or livestock. Therefore, the rural residents have the opportunity to grow their own vegetables and fruits, produce meat and dairy for personal needs and for sale in the market.

Quality new levels will be reached by national agricultural complex during realization of the Programme of social and economic development of Turkmenistan in 2018 – 2024.

In October of this year, National Parliament adopted the Law on Amendments and Addendums of the Code of Turkmenistan on Land. Handover of the land to long-term lease to the farmers, who provided the fulfilment of contractual obligations on production of agricultural crops within 5 year, foundation of agricultural joint stock ventures in this field, all of these will support the establishment of the class of private land users and landlords, strong farmers associations. Transition to new forms of farming oriented to market relations will allow filling the markets with various domestic products and consolidating the export potential of agricultural complex.

Generally, it can be stated that the objectives set for the provision of food abundance in the country are solved successfully. Food sector of national economy is steadily developed, the volumes and quality of domestic products are growing and the variety is expanded.