On November 26, Assistant to the President for Social Development and Public Relations Emomali Nasriddinzoda, Deputy Prime Minister Sulaimon Ziyozoda and other officials attended the opening ceremony of the First Potato Exhibition and Sale Festival in Dushanbe. Tajik agricultural producers sold varieties of this crop at a price of 2 somoni at the Festival, the Khovar News Agency reported.
In his opening remarks, Ziyozoda noted that thanks to the efforts of agricultural producers, Tajikistan will produce 1.15 million tonnes of potato this year, which will have a positive effect on food security. He noted that for 10 months of the year, the contribution of agricultural producers to GDP is over 23%.
The farmers, participating in the Festival, reported that the potato varieties, which are produced in the Republic today, provide approximately 65% of the domestic consumer market. They said the recommended potato consumption in the country is 92 kg per capita per year.
According to agricultural scientists, the potato is a well-growing crop in the crop rotation system, because after sowing, the topsoil becomes porous and weeds are reduced. This type of crop are mainly propagated by tubers.
A scientist Kurbonali Partoev said potatoes are currently grown in the regions of the Rasht Valley, Khatlon and Sughd Regions, the Gissar Valley and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, the best variety grows in the Rasht Valley.
