DUSHANBE, April 23, Asia-Plus  -- The first meeting of the Council of Sponsors of the National Association of Dehkan Farms (NADF) of Tajikistan, presided over by Agriculture Minister Qosim Qosimov, was held in Dushanbe on April 22.

The source at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) said that the draft national concept for development of dehkan (peasant) farms for 2010-2015 had been among major topics of the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, the NADF head Azizbek Sharipov noted that the main objective of the strategy was in promoting enhancement of the agrarian sector through providing farmers with modern equipment, using new methods of work, etc.  Sharipov proposed to set up the national center for innovation and agricultural exhibitions in the country and hold the republican exhibition “Farmer-2010” in Dushanbe next year.    

31,662 dehkan farms currently function in Tajikistan.