Council for food security may accelerate reforms in agrarian sector

DUSHANBE, August 1, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- It is necessary to support any actions of the government aimed at tackling the food shortage problem, MP Ismoil Talbakov, who represents the Communist Party in the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

Commenting on the establishment of the Council for Food Security, Mr. Talbakov noted that the council must have all necessary powers.

“The Council should pay a special attention to development of chemical industry, energy, water industry, and science because it is impossible to ensure enhancement of the agrarian sector without them,” the parliamentarian noted.

He also pointed to the necessity of taking measures to develop dehqon (peasant) farms in the country.  “The majority of farming units in the country are not able to purchase mineral fertilizers and necessary agricultural machines on their own and they do not have access to large loans.”

The parliamentarian is sure that if the government becomes generator of appropriate reforms in the agrarian sector, Tajikistan will be able to maintain more than 25 million people.

“A group of deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon are currently working on a draft law on the credit cooperatives.  This law is aimed to promote strengthening of capacities of farming units in the country to purchase agricultural machines and fertilizers and I hope the Council for Food Security will also participate in working out this law,”  Talbakov added.

We will recall that by government’s decree of July 29 the Council for Food Security was established.  The council members include heads of relevant ministries and agencies and it will be headed by Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov.