Quarterly Report of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Tajikistan (AAST) for 2024

The meeting was opened by the President of the Academy, respected Salimzoda Amonullo Faizullo, who noted that the Board and scientific institutions of the Academy in the first three months of the current year carried out their scientific, organizational, and economic activities aimed at ensuring the country’s food security within the framework of the Message of the Founder of Peace and National Unity — the Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, as well as the Head of State’s working visits to regions, decisions and resolutions of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, instructions from the Executive Office of the President, strategies, concepts, and sectoral programs. The Academy also prioritized improving the quality and efficiency of scientific research, training young scientists, enhancing the material and technical base of scientific institutions and experimental farms, and the broad implementation of scientific achievements into production.

Three main issues were discussed at the meeting: “On the activities of the scientific institutions of AAST in the first quarter of 2024,” “Results of the implementation of the project of the Presidential Fund for Fundamental Research ‘Development of technology and organization of production of a new antiparasitic agent against protozoal diseases of agricultural livestock and its application in livestock farms of centrally subordinated districts,’” and “Scientific activities of the branch of the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Pastures in Sughd Region in 2022-2023.”

Vice President of the Academy, Faizullo Amirshozoda, speaking on the first issue, recalled the achievements of scientists during this period, noting that the scientific institutions of the Academy continue research on 59 state order topics, 9 international programs, and 4 projects within the framework of the Presidential Fund for Fundamental Research. Experimental demonstration plots have been established in institutions and their subdivisions to study modern methods of breeding and seed production, technologies for growing agricultural crops and livestock, establishing intensive orchards, methods for combating plant and animal diseases and pests, and other ongoing areas of work.

Faizullo Amirshozoda also reported that during the first three months of this year, scientists obtained 4 initial patents, 12 certificates of authorship for breeding achievements in crop and livestock production, and 13 invention certificates, as well as filed 5 applications for patents and initial patents.

Additionally, the Academy’s scientists submitted one new variety of medium-staple cotton for testing to the State Commission for Variety Testing and Protection of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan.

On the second issue, the Director of the Institute of Biosafety and Biotechnology of AAST, K.B. Mahmoudov, presented a report on the results of the project implementation funded by the Presidential Fund for Fundamental Research on the development of technology and organization of production of a new antiparasitic agent against protozoal diseases in agricultural livestock and its application in livestock farms of centrally subordinated districts.

Regarding the third issue, the Director of the branch of the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Pastures in Sughd Region, M.A. Qosimov, reported on the branch’s scientific activities in 2022-2023.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the President of the Academy, Salimzoda Amonullo Faizullo, instructed the heads of scientific institutions to take necessary measures to improve the level and quality of research, enhance the implementation of scientific achievements in production, and advance the training of scientific personnel. The President evaluated the report as satisfactory and gave specific directives for further improvement of work.

The Board of the Academy reviewed the agenda items and adopted the following resolutions:

1. To take note of the report by Vice President Faizullo Amirshozoda on the activities of the Academy’s scientific institutions in the first quarter of 2024.

2. To instruct the heads of scientific institutions of the Academy to take the following measures to improve the level and quality of research, enhance the implementation of scientific achievements in production, and train scientific personnel:

• Implement the tasks and directives stemming from the Message of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Supreme Assembly (28.12.2023) and the Government resolution “On the results of socio-economic development of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2023 and tasks for 2024” (24.01.2024), as well as state development programs for the agricultural sector;

• Improve the quality of scientific research on state order topics and organize research within the structural subdivisions of scientific institutions;

• Enhance the material and technical base of scientific institutions and experimental farms, and widely implement scientific achievements and innovative technologies into production;

• Actively involve talented youth in scientific research, graduate studies, postgraduate studies, doctoral training, and preparation of doctoral and candidate dissertations in their specialties;

• Ensure the organization of conferences, seminars, field days, farmer meetings, and round tables according to the approved plan on agricultural development issues;

• Improve the production and financial performance of experimental farms, stations, and points, as well as the effective and targeted use of land plots under their management.