The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has recently published an educational and practical guideline on production of pulses in Tajik language Тухмипарварии зироатҳои лубиёдонагӣ. This initiative was supported by the Austrian-funded project to improve small-scale farmers’ access to high-quality seeds.
Among others, the publication extends detailed information on the biological quality and growing of pulses, diseases and pests and the ways how to fight against them, with special attention to varieties that grow in Tajikistan, certification procedure. All these aim to provide practical assistance to seed breeding specialists, farmers, students, and agricultural specialists, as well as foster national capacities that contribute to diversification of cropping systems.
“High-quality seeds of pulses are critical in increasing farm productivity, ensuring food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods of farmers and population of Tajikistan as a whole,” emphasized Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Tajikistan.
This manual also highly promotes pulses production and consumption in Tajikistan. While it guarantees food security and nutrition throughout the globe, it can greatly contribute to the achieving of the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically to those related to poverty reduction, better nutrition, climate change and health.
“To this end this practical guide may serve as a profound source of information and knowledge, in particular on seed multiplication,” Guchgeldiyev continued. “Agricultural specialists can garner new experience that contribute to sustainable production of pulses.”
For the Tajik cuisine, it is certain that cereals and pulses represent the most ancient and traditional elements. Based on statistical data, cereals and pulses cover more than 60 percent of daily calorie intake of the country’s population.
“Pulses establish a symbiosis with nitrogen fixating bacteria and improve soil fertility. The root system of pulses penetrates to the lower layers of the soil and dissolves the soil nutrients and makes them better accessible for the next crop,” explained FAO agricultural officer Hafiz Muminjanov.
“The protein content of pulses is high with good composition of amino-acids. In this regard pulses are considered as a key crop for stable intensification of food production,” added Muminjanov.
Noteworthy to mention that the practical guideline was developed in collaboration with FAO specialist Munira Otambekova and Tajikistan Seed Association specialist Marufqul Mahkamov.
BUNAFSHA AZIMOVA
Communication assistant
FAO Tajikistan
Tel: +992 93 577 33 73
E-mail: Bunafsha.Azimova@fao.org
