Turkmenistan and FAO Launch Project on Sustainable Soil Management

A two-year project aimed at introducing and disseminating sustainable agricultural soil management practices has been launched in the capital of Turkmenistan. This initiative, a joint effort between the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aims to strengthen the food security of the country in the face of global climate challenges.

The project launch was marked by a roundtable discussion bringing together a wide range of participants, including specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture (including the Land Resources Service and the Agrochemical Laboratory), representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and farmers' associations.

FAO agricultural expert Artur Shamilov emphasized that the main goal today is not simply increasing yields, but also restoring degraded soils and diversifying production. The project directly addresses the challenges of climate change and desertification, offering an integrated approach focused on the practical, scientific, technical and managerial levels.

Plans call for the creation of a pilot plot to test a new crop rotation scheme and the establishment of a ‘station’ for regular soil sampling and analysis. This will allow for on-site determination of the chemical composition and salinity and the determination of effective agronomic measures.

Particular attention is being paid to training Land Resources Service specialists in modern soil analysis methods, as well as conducting seminars and ‘schools’ for farmers and organizing trips to exchange experiences with foreign colleagues from countries with similar soil and climatic conditions.

Implementation of best practices: Based on the research results, a list of recommended measures tested in Turkmenistan will be compiled, including field rolling to reduce moisture evaporation and the use of a four-field crop rotation.

Deputy Head of the Land Resources Service, Govshut Shadurdyyev, noted that the state actively supports agricultural producers, including by paying for soil analysis for farmer associations, and emphasized the role of reforms in attracting entrepreneurship to the agricultural sector.

The participants of the event agreed that increasing land productivity should be based on environmentally friendly, water-efficient and scientifically proven methods, rather than through wasteful expansion of acreage or fertilizers. The ultimate goal of the project is to bring these effective, best practices directly to farmers, laying a solid foundation for future prosperity.

Source: THP