DUSHANBE, December 19, Asia-Plus -- More than 1,000 hectares of new lands have been developed in the mountain areas of Tajikistan this year, according to the Ministry Land Reclamation and Water Resources (MoLRWR) 

A source at a MoLRWR said that development of these lands is part of the national six-year program for development of new lands in remote mountain areas (2004-2006).  Under this program aimed at improvement of living level of the population of the remote areas some 9,000 hectares of news lands are scheduled to have been developed in the mountain areas of the republic by 2010.

Over the past two years, more than 2,000 hectares of lands have been developed in Jirgatol, Tojikobod, Vanj, Nurobod and other districts, according to the source.  

            Besides, the ministry should annually improve irrigation state of not less than 12,000 hectares of lands in the country.