DUSHANBE, February 25, 2011, Asia-Plus – Under conditions of rising food prices, the Tajik authorities should take urgent measures to rehabilitate derelict lands in order to ensure the food security of the country, Firouz Saidov, head of the social sphere and labor market department within the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

He says there are many derelict lands in the Qurghon Teppa zone (Vakhsh Valley) of Khatlon province.  “According to the statistical data from the Agency for Land Management and Geodesy, more than 50,000 hectares of derelict lands, with almost half them being irrigated lands, have been registered in the country to date,” Saidov noted.

He considers that this situation emerged in the country after the collapse of the Soviet Union when financing of the irrigation system has been considerably reduced.

“Every year, some districts in the Vakhsh Valley yield thousands of tons of farm produce less due to the damaged irrigation system and thousands of our citizens have to leave the country seeking better employment opportunities,” the senior expert from Tajik think tank said, noting that all expenses on rehabilitation of the irrigation and drainage systems in the country will be repaid within two or three years.

“In my opinion, it is necessary to consider the possibility of exempting farmers from all types of taxes during rehabilitation of the derelict lands,” Saidov added.