DUSHANBE (TCA) — Tajikistan President Emomali Rakhmon has urged to increase the export of Tajik fruit and vegetables to Russia, Avesta news agency reported.
“The export of fruit and vegetables from Tajikistan to Russia should be increased 1.5-fold this year and three-fold next year,” Rakhmon said during his working trip to Gissar district on February 25.
The president emphasized that “today our major strategic partner, the Russian Federation, is interested in increasing the import of fruit and vegetables from Tajikistan, which also meets our interests.”
In his words, Tajikistan has the necessary basis for growing more fruit and vegetables as in recent years the country has planted new orchards and vineyards on an area of more than 75 thousand hectares.
In addition, Tajikistan plans to plant new orchards and vineyards on more than 20 thousand hectares between 2016 and 2020. Tajikistan mainly grows export-oriented sorts of fruit that are in high demand abroad.
The president also spoke about plans in vegetable growing, including production of early vegetables for export. This year Tajikistan plans to export over 200 thousand tons of early onions to Russia.
After Russia imposed sanctions on Turkey banning the import of Turkish agricultural products, Central Asian countries of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan now consider Russia as an important export market for their fruit and vegetables.
