The President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, visited the village of Ovchikalacha in the Sughd region to learn about the development of an intensive orchard.
The intensive orchard covers 20 hectares, with 10 hectares allocated for apple and cherry trees and the remaining 10 hectares for peach and quince trees. The orchard was established on the site of old apricot trees that had not yielded fruit for more than 30 years. Modern agricultural techniques, including drip irrigation, are being applied at the site.
According to the branch, its agricultural lands cover 564 hectares, with about 400 hectares dedicated to orchards and more than 80 hectares allocated to vineyards. In 2014, another intensive orchard was planted on 4 hectares of the institute's land. The remaining orchards and vineyards are traditional and serve as a platform for scientific research and the implementation of best practices.
Scientists believe that intensive orchards have an economic advantage over traditional ones, as they yield crops within three to four years after planting. The inter-rows in the orchards are used efficiently, and at the early stages, vegetable crops are grown between the trees. In the new orchard, onions are planted on 6 hectares, carrots on 4 hectares, and watermelons are grown on 2 hectares under film covers. An experiment is also being conducted to grow Anzura onions.
The institute's scientists are actively conducting research in the fields of horticulture, viticulture, and vegetable growing. They have received 12 authors' certificates for the creation of 8 varieties of apricots, 1 variety of carrots, and 1 variety of grapes. Currently, two more apricot varieties, three grape varieties, and two types of onions are undergoing testing.
According to data, the total area of orchards in the Sughd region exceeds 70,000 hectares, of which about 60,000 hectares are productive. Intensive and super-intensive horticultural methods are being actively implemented in the region. Currently, about 1,000 hectares in the region are occupied by such orchards.
Source: avesta.tj