A training course is being held in Ashgabat as part of a joint project between the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) entitled ‘Promoting capacity building for the protection of cereal crops from pests’. This was reported by the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’.

The two-year project, which started at the beginning of the year, is scheduled to run until 2027 and includes a series of seminars on phytosanitary control, new chemical agents and technologies for pest and weed control.

A pilot experimental site is being created at the Grain Research Institute to demonstrate methods of increasing yields and conducting field training for agronomists, hakimlik employees, farmers and neighbouring farms. The results of the research will be evaluated by scientists, representatives of universities and the agricultural business.

During the training, it was noted that several agro-ecological projects with a scientific focus are being implemented in Turkmenistan, including the protection of cotton. Russian specialists shared their experience in protecting grain crops, presenting information on pests, pesticides and the characteristics of locust distribution, which sparked a lively exchange of views with their Turkmen colleagues.

The seminar is being held at the ‘Archabil’ Hotel until the end of the week, with participants visiting enterprises and quarantine and plant protection services under the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan.