DUSHANBE, August 6, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon expressed satisfaction with a progress of intermediate sowing campaign on the irrigated areas in the Vahdat district and successes made by local farmers in this direction, according to presidential press service. 

His praise came during an address to the republican seminar on enhancement of agrarian sector that was held in Vahdat on August 5.    

Rahmon ordered the implementation of measures to provide food security of the country.  He, in particular, noted that according to the Academy of Agricultural Sciences,  the country does not have opportunities to extend areas under cereals.  However, it is possible to have two grain harvests from one plot during a year through using biological and climatic resources, growing yields high-yield crops and improving growth technologies, the press service cited the president as saying.  

Rahmon noted that Tajikistan is able to produce more than 1 million tons of cereals a year.  

Concerning the intermediate sowing campaign in the country, he noted that situation in some farming units of the Sughd province, as well as Temourmalik, Qumsangir and Shahrinav districts is unsatisfactory.   

The president stressed that the main task of agrarians is to provide food security of the country.  “To achieve this goal we should use all existing resources and provide sustainable development of the agrarian sector,” he was quoted as saying.   

The seminar discussed prospects of development of the agrarian sector in the second half-year of 2008 and issues related to efficient use land, increase in production of agricultural goods and improvement of quality of intermediate sowing campaign. 

The seminar participants included administrators of the provinces and districts subordinate to the center, relevant ministers, heads of banks as well as researchers and specialists in the agricultural issues.