DUSHANBE, 19.11.2024 /NIAT “Khovar”/. On November 19, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, participated in the Honey, Potato and Pomegranate Festival.

Fruits, vegetables, cereals, rice, dried fruits, honey and other types and samples of agricultural products were exhibited by the hardworking people of the cities and districts of Sughd Province in the form of pyramids and various images, which is proof of the abundant harvest in 2024.

As of November 1, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, the number of honeybee families in Sughd Province has increased by 578 families, reaching 80,525 families. In the 10 months of this year, 1,559 tons of honey were produced in Sughd Province.

The Head of State drew the attention of relevant officials and farmers to the extensive use of the potential of the mountainous cities and districts of the region for honey production, increasing bee productivity through breeding, increasing the production of this type of food and medicinal product, and presenting the virtues of Tajik honey at the international level. Within the framework of the “Comprehensive Program for the Development of the Livestock, Poultry, Fish and Beekeeping Sectors for 2023-2027”, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan provided beekeepers in the cities and districts of the region with 520 bee colonies and 400 purebred queen bees to increase productivity and improve the breed.

Currently, experienced beekeeper Ochilboy Habibov is raising 1,000 bee colonies. From this, he sells 1,000 bee colonies to other farms every year, receiving additional profit.

Giving priority to the cultivation of domestic seed varieties, compliance with agrotechnical requirements and continuous work made it possible to produce more than 640 thousand tons of potatoes in the Sughd Province as of November 1. This figure is 105 thousand tons more than in the same period last year.

The Head of State, taking into account the current climatic conditions and the increasing demand for food in the world consumer market, considered it necessary to fully utilize natural resources, study modern technology and increasingly introduce modern practices in the cultivation of this type of vegetable in the main potato-growing cities and districts of the region — Panjakent, Istaravshan, Isfara, Kuhistoni Mastchoh, Aini, Shahriston and Devashtich.

Currently, the total area of pomegranates in Sughd Province is more than 500 hectares. The efforts of workers are aimed at increasing the opportunities for pomegranate production, taking into account the nuances of cultivation. In 2024, compared to 2023, the total area of rice cultivation in Sughd Province was expanded by 1014 hectares, reaching 9619 hectares.

In Sughd Province, the total agricultural output has increased from 2.7 billion somoni in 2010 to 18.5 billion somoni in 2023, which is an increase of 15.8 billion somoni.

The Head of State got acquainted with the fruits of the labor of farmers and considered it necessary to fully utilize natural resources to increase land efficiency in order to ensure food security.

The attention of representatives of the private sector was drawn to the wide use of incentives offered by the Government of the country, the introduction of modern technology, processing agricultural products to the final level, drying fruits in accordance with the requirements of international markets, and increasing the export of agricultural products.

Also on this day, various types of bakery products and national dishes were presented. Folk performances were demonstrated by artists.