Agriculture Technology Program (AGTECH) Final Report (September 2010 - February 2015)

The project aimed to increase and develop private enterprises, and improve productivity of private, small, and household farms. The goals were to increase household incomes of producers by up to 50% and increase yields for crops and livestock produced by private farms by three times. Private agriculture production in Turkmenistan exists in three forms: long-term leases on newly cultivated desert lands, leases of former state livestock farms, and production on backyard plots. The project focused on promoting better practices and greater productivity in backyard farms through greenhouse construction and plant care and management training. Supplemental training addressed soil testing, fertilizers, and pesticide safe usage and application. The project had two key components: Component 1, which aimed to improve genetics, education, and organization to increase incomes of private agribusiness involved in livestock, and Component 2, which focused on skills building for private producers, processors, and marketers of fruits and vegetables. To accomplish these activities, AgTech focused on three objectives: increasing household incomes of producers, increasing yields for crops and livestock, and increasing area under cultivation for crops other than wheat and cotton. Private production accounts for only a fraction of the land under agricultural production in the country. Villagers rely on their backyards to produce food for consumption and barter. To promote better practices and greater productivity in these backyard farms, the project concentrated on greenhouse construction and plant care and management with supplemental training. This training addressed soil testing, fertilizers, and pesticide safe usage and application. The project provided support to farmers, veterinarians, agribusiness processors, and input suppliers in Mary, Ahal, Lebap, and Dashoguz velayats by increasing access to needed training and equipment and strengthening market linkages in the horticulture and dairy value chains. The project has achieved significant results, including a 50% increase in household incomes of producers and a threefold increase in yields for crops and livestock produced by private farms. The project has also increased area under cultivation for crops other than wheat and cotton by 50%.