DUSHANBE, 30.06.2020. (NIAT Khovar) – The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon arrived in the Sughd Province on a working visit in order to become familiar with the progress of its socio-economic development. During his trip, he also held a number of meetings with the locals and took part in the opening ceremonies of a number of a new facilities.

The working visit began with the opening ceremony for the new Vahdat diagnostic treatment center and the infectious diseases hospital in the Khistevarz community of the Bobojon-Ghafourov district.  The hospitals are equipped with the state-of-the-art medical equipment.

After getting acquainted with the working conditions there, President Rahmon attended the unveiling ceremony of the National Flag Square in Khistevarz, with a 50-meter flagpole. He also attended the opening ceremony of the Guliston Service Center, which includes a hotel, two restaurants, and banking services.

Also, in the Khistevarz community, President Rahmon surprised 50 orphans and children from vulnerable families with presents and held a meeting with the children.

During the conversation with the locals, he noted that one of the priorities of the government is to support the poor and implementing measures aimed at improving the living conditions of those in need.  He also called on children and adolescents to read books more, gain knowledge, learn professions and contribute to the development of the country.

After visiting the Abdughaffor Jabborov farm which specializes in growing cotton, tomatoes and other vegetables, which supplies the domestic market with a significant number of agricultural products and healthy fruits, President Rahmon attended the Exhibition of Agricultural Products, which showcased local products and achievements in the agriculture sector.

In order to implementation of state programs for expansion of agricultural land and fulfillment of orders and instructions of the government regarding the efficient use of land in the Bobojon Ghafurov district, the land for the cultivation of potatoes, onions, tomatoes and other agricultural crops have increased at the expense of inactive lands.

The opening ceremony for the Chujai Bayzo Poultry farm, which was built by local entrepreneurs, followed the list. The farm is one of the largest poultry farms in the Sughd region. Over the five months of 2019, local farms had produced 587 tonnes of dietary chicken, this figure reached 3062 tonnes in the same period this year.

President Rahmon also visited the National Vahdat Garden and toured the exhibition of apricots and honey, which showcased 35 popular and high-yielding varieties of local apricots. There are 70,000 ha of gardens in the region today, of which 586 ha of new gardens were added in 2020. The fruits of new orchards are mainly for export. There are 50,000 hectares of apricot orchards. The harvest from 38,000 ha are exported outside the country both in raw form and packaged.

Last year, 18,828 tonnes of fruits were exported from Sughd region abroad, including more than 4,554 tonnes fresh. And in the first six months of this year, the volume of fruit exports reached 13,516 tonnes, of which about 3,300 tonnes are apricots.

President Rahmon instructed the governor of Sughd Province and chairman of cities and district to increase the indicators of horticulture and viticulture, especially the expansion of apricot orchards and stressed that Tajikistan can become a world leader in apricot growing and dried fruit exports.