DUSHANBE, November 20, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The government is expected to complete the development of the agrarian reform program in the first half-year of 2010, Nematjon Bouriyev, Senior Adviser to the President for Economic Matters, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, the program provides for introduction of free market mechanisms for the agrarian sector, including land reform, enhancement of management of water resources, change of role of the government in the agrarian sector and strengthening farmers’ rights to land.  “The program also provides for changes in mechanisms for financing of the agrarian sector and strengthening of the banking system in order to prevent new debts,” Bouriyev said.

To ensure provision of domestic market with farm produce and production of export crops the agrarian reform program also stipulates diversification of the country’s agrarian sector, the adviser noted.

He added that the development of the strategy of social development of rural areas designed for 2010-2020 was nearing completion.  The government plans to consider the strategy by the end of this year.  “This document has been developed by the government in line with president’s decree on additional measures to support the agrarian sector in Tajikistan,” Bouriyev said.