DUSHANBE, April 23, 2014, Asia-Plus – A new horticulture development program for the next ten years will be worked out and adopted by September this year, President Emomali Rahmon announced today at a joint meeting of both chambers of the parliament.

He ordered relevant ministries and agencies to take additional measures to support enhancement of the agrarian sector, in particular development of horticulture and establishment of new enterprises for processing agricultural goods.

“Over the past decade, new gardens have been laid out on 50,000 hectares,” said Rahmon.  “We have good opportunities for planting new gardens and the Ministry of Agriculture, entrepreneurs and heads of farming units should pay a proper attention to laying out new gardens.”

He stressed that gardening was a profitable business that could raise the country’s export potential considerably.

“According to estimates from the Customs Service, Tajikistan earns 1.5 billion U.S. dollars from fruit and vegetable exports per year,” said the president.  “Over twenty-three years of independence, Tajikistan has earned 40-45 billion U.S. dollars from fruit and vegetable exports.”