DUSHANBE, 19.04.2026 /NIAT “Khovar”/. Today digital technologies are transforming people’s lives in almost all spheres. How digital transformation is reforming agriculture and what opportunities it opens for domestic specialists was discussed in an interview with Loik Tuychizoda, Head of the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Agriculture is directly linked to economic stability and food security, and in the 21st century, when digital technologies are becoming a key development factor, their introduction is not only necessary but inevitable.
Given that technological development is progressing at an unprecedented pace, it is also having a significant impact on the development of agriculture.
Digitalization of agriculture refers to the introduction of digital technologies into production, management, and planning processes. All of this is aimed at increasing crop yields, livestock productivity, and overall sector efficiency.
It is important to understand that we are currently witnessing unprecedented climate change and increasing competition. In this process, efficient use of natural resources and innovation are especially important.
The introduction of “smart” agriculture is aimed at solving problems in the agricultural sector, improving efficiency, ensuring sustainability and predictability of production processes, and enabling rational use of natural resources.
Digital technologies allow agricultural producers to organize their activities efficiently in line with modern requirements.
In this context, it is also important to note that the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, declared 2025–2030 as the “Years of Development of the Digital Economy and Innovation.”
In recent years, the whole world has been facing negative and unpredictable consequences of climate change, ecological disasters related to temperature fluctuations, precipitation changes, glacier melting, floods, and droughts. These factors lead to food shortages, becoming a serious economic problem for many countries.
To prevent and address these issues, many countries are taking measures.
Countries such as the USA, China, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Russia, and others began implementing precision agriculture in the late 20th century. As a result, they were able to significantly increase agricultural efficiency, reduce production costs, and strengthen food security.
For example, in the USA in 2024, agriculture and the food industry contributed 1.1 trillion dollars to the country’s GDP and provided about 11% of total employment.
Currently, about 10% of the world’s arable land is located in China, while the country feeds about 20% of the world’s population. In 2025, China’s agricultural production reached approximately 714.9 million tons of grain, which is 8.4 million tons more than in 2024.
The Netherlands ranks second in the world in agricultural exports. In 2024, agricultural production reached 140 billion dollars. The use of modern and digital technologies has significantly increased global average crop yields.
The foundation of progress in these countries is the widespread use of modern technologies, smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, drip irrigation, and other factors that allow high profits with minimal costs.
The Republic of Tajikistan is one of the countries with rich natural resources such as water, fertile land, and more than 300 sunny days per year.
All this creates favorable conditions for cultivating crops, obtaining two or three harvests per year, and producing environmentally friendly and competitive products. In addition, seasonal pastures are widely used for livestock development.
The experience of countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, China, and Azerbaijan is close to Tajikistan’s climatic and natural conditions, as the country has a continental climate, mountainous terrain, and significant water resources.
Today, scientists in the agricultural sector of Tajikistan have achieved several significant results.
By introducing modern methods, agricultural producers use advanced experience and achieve high yields and productivity, for example in cotton cultivation under film, and the creation of super-intensive orchards. Modern greenhouses and livestock farms are also being built throughout the country.
Examples include livestock farms of LLC “Marmari”, greenhouse complexes of LLC “Vitamins of Tajikistan”, and other enterprises using advanced technologies.
One of the key documents is the “National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030.” This document serves as a fundamental guideline for the development of various sectors.
The adoption of specific programs creates a strong basis for sector management and innovation, which positively affects efficiency improvement.
Tajikistan has adopted the following documents: the “Concept of the Digital Economy of the Republic of Tajikistan,” the “Medium-Term Program for the Development of the Digital Economy of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2021–2025,” and its second phase for 2026–2030.
In agriculture, the following sectoral programs have been adopted: the “Concept of Innovative Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Republic of Tajikistan,” the “Program for the Development of Agro-Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture until 2030,” the “Program for the Development of Innovative Agricultural Mechanization for 2025–2029,” the “Program for the Digitalization of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2025–2029,” and the “Food Security Program of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2026–2030.”
At the same time, this creates conditions for fuller use of agricultural potential.
In addition, implementation of these documents lays the foundation for precision farming, digitalization, and improved management systems, eliminating existing shortcomings and ensuring sustainable development of the sector.
The development of agricultural digitalization in the Republic of Tajikistan is at an initial stage of implementation. Strengthening intersectoral cooperation will support adaptation of key conditions, financing, and attraction of domestic and foreign investment.
The Government of Tajikistan has adopted the “Program for the Development of Innovative Agricultural Mechanization for 2025–2029” and the “Program for the Digitalization of Agriculture for 2025–2029.”
Within the Digitalization Program, financing of 120 million somoni is planned from state funds, the private sector, and development partners.
Within the Mechanization Program, the first phase (2025–2027) provides for financing of 207.88 million somoni from all sources.
A State Unitary Enterprise “Center for Digitalization, Innovation, and Agricultural Staff Training” has been established under the Ministry of Agriculture to implement digital agriculture and improve farmers’ knowledge.
Several development projects are also being implemented, including an agreement with the Asian Development Bank worth 17.0 million USD for the “Digital Agricultural Management for Food Security Enhancement” project, aimed at livestock identification systems, animal health improvement, and pasture management.
A 8 million USD project with KOICA supports the construction of modern greenhouses, and a 10 million USD agreement with the UN World Food Programme supports youth engagement in agricultural technologies.
Work is ongoing on an Agro-Information Management System, a digital platform for collecting, analyzing, and managing agricultural data.
A Digital Soil Mapping System is being developed at the Institute of Soil Science of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
The State Enterprise “Locust Control Expedition” has received drones for monitoring and reducing chemical usage.
All this represents the beginning of financing through state programs and development partners, with further investment expected.
Digitalization of agriculture will ensure efficient use of land and water resources, higher yields, increased livestock productivity, two to three harvests per year, improved production capacity, food security, reduced imports, increased exports, and improved farmers’ incomes, contributing to overall economic development.
These points are reflected in the Food Security Program of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2026–2030.
Climate change is increasing adverse weather events affecting agriculture.
Glacier melting may lead in the short term to spring floods and in the long term to reduced water availability, affecting agriculture.
Agriculture is one of the most climate-vulnerable sectors, and innovation is necessary for adaptation.
Digitalization supports climate adaptation, sustainable development, access to quality food, improved public health, higher incomes, and economic growth.
Yes, they are. This is not a whim but a requirement of the times. Globally, modernization, innovation, and digitalization in agriculture are revolutionary processes.
Farmers need modern technologies that enable efficient production management.
Technologies such as GIS systems, GPS, IoT devices, drones, and automated machinery enable precision mapping, monitoring, irrigation, and automation, reducing costs and improving decision-making.
Artificial intelligence is also increasingly helping farmers make decisions.
Currently, Tajikistan has 186,400 farms. About 70% of the population is employed in agriculture, which contributes 23% of GDP and about 20% of exports.
However, challenges remain, including lack of investment, limited access to finance, weak infrastructure in remote areas, shortage of equipment, and lack of digital skills.
Efforts are underway to overcome these barriers, including digital agricultural management systems, AI-based crop monitoring, digital farm registries, and platforms such as “AgroDonish” and a “Farmer Chatbot.”
Alongside climate change, global instability and rising input costs are increasing risks in agriculture.
According to the FAO, land degradation due to urbanization, pollution, overuse of fertilizers, and improper irrigation is reducing soil fertility.
About 750 million people face food insecurity, and 2.2 billion lack access to clean water.
Digital agriculture offers opportunities for a new level of innovation and technological development.
No country can fully ensure food security in isolation. Regional cooperation and resilient supply chains are becoming increasingly important.
The Ministry’s key strategic goal is food security, ensuring availability, access, and sustainable supply of safe food, strengthening independence, and adapting to climate change.
Most food products in the consumer basket—grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, livestock products—are produced domestically and are environmentally friendly.
Food self-sufficiency has reached 85%.
Yes. Storage, logistics, and export systems are being developed. Five agro-logistics centers are planned in several regions with a total value of 25 million USD, each with a capacity of up to 2,000 tons.
In 2025, agricultural production reached 84.7 billion somoni, a 9.5% increase compared to the previous year.
Sowing covered 843,600 hectares, including cereals, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, melons, and fodder crops.
Production included 1.8 million tons of grain, 400,000 tons of cotton, 1.3 million tons of potatoes, 3.4 million tons of vegetables, 1.3 million tons of melons, 954,300 tons of fruit, and 346,100 tons of grapes.
Repeated sowing on 200,000 hectares produced about 1.5 million tons of additional output.
Livestock numbers include 2.9 million cattle, 7.5 million sheep and goats, 96,800 horses, 260,000 bee colonies, and 13.1 million poultry. Production included 454,300 tons of meat, 1.2 million tons of milk, 1.4 billion eggs, 3,800 tons of honey, and 5,500 tons of fish.
Elena Batenkova
NIAT “Khovar”
