The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) donated 42 tons of Turkish potato seeds to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan under the Tajikistan Potato Development Project.
According to Avesta.Tj with reference to the TIKA office in the Republic of Tajikistan, a total of 42 tons of seed potatoes were provided under the "Project for the Development of Potato Production in Tajikistan" with the support of the Turkish Agency TIKA and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan.
40,2 tons of 42 tons of seed potatoes will be distributed directly to farmers in two different regions of Tajikistan. The remaining 1,8 tons will be used for trial cultivation.
Thus, the project is aimed at obtaining the most productive types of potato seeds for Tajikistan. Within the framework of the same project, in order to create the most favorable conditions for the trial planting, 3 seed drills for potatoes were donated, and a specialist from Turkey came to support in the correct cultivation of crops.
TIKA Coordinator in Tajikistan Mr. Ibrahim Erbir said: “The project supported by TIKA is a very important step for potato production in Tajikistan. This support is not only a one-time supply of potato seeds, but also aims to bring certified quality and cheap seed Turkish potatoes to the country as part of the supply of seed potatoes that Tajikistan needs in the coming years. As part of this initiative, in the first phase, we donate an urgently needed 40,2 tonnes of seed potatoes for direct distribution to farmers. As part of planning for the coming years, we are also handing over a 1,8 ton batch of 6 certified quality seed Turkish potatoes for trial cultivation.
Together with the relevant department of the Ministry of Agriculture, 6 types of seed potatoes imported from Turkey will be grown on a trial basis in three different regions of Tajikistan. Of these, we will determine the most productive and suitable for the country and supply the necessary seed potatoes in the coming years. As TIKA, we also provide all the support you need to carry out trial cultivation under all conditions. We also donated 3 potato planting machines, one to each region, to ensure that the trial cultivation is carried out in the healthiest possible conditions. ”
In addition, according to the coordinator, in order to provide the necessary expert support for the most correct and healthy planting of seeds, a specialist from Turkey in the field of growing seed potatoes was invited. This specialist will train and supervise the test plantings.
“Through this project, we aim to solve the chronic seed potato problem in Tajikistan,” concluded Mr. Ibrahim Erbir.
TIKA is a Turkish international development aid organization with offices in more than 65 countries around the world and works in more than 170 countries. To date, TIKA has carried out tens of thousands of projects in the countries of its presence.
TIKA started its activities in Tajikistan in 1992. The TIKA Coordination Office in Dushanbe began its work in 1995. And since then, in accordance with the priorities, needs and development goals of Tajikistan, has implemented about 500 projects in the field of development and technical cooperation aimed at improving the living standards of the Tajik people in education, health care, agriculture, rural development, water supply, professional training and institutional capacity building.