On April 8, 2025, a reporting meeting was held with broad participation of the leadership and staff of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Tajikistan and its research institutions.
The meeting was opened by the President of the Academy, Amonullo Salimzoda, who noted that an important historical event occurred in the life of the Academy this year. During the working visit of the Head of State, H.E. Emomali Rahmon, to the cities and districts of Sughd Province, the Academy’s scientific activities were presented to the Leader of the Nation.
After reviewing the presentation and holding discussions with the Academy’s leadership and scientists, the President of the country supported the development of the agricultural science sector and the establishment of a domestic production line for veterinary vaccines to prevent infectious diseases in animals. This project is to be implemented based on the institutes of biological safety, biotechnology, and veterinary medicine. The President instructed the relevant authorities to support this initiative. Mr. Salimzoda expressed gratitude to the heads, scientists, and staff of the research institutions for the organization and high level of scientific achievements of the Academy.
Following this, Vice President of the Academy, Faizullo Amirshozoda, reported on the results of the activities of the Academy’s institutions for the first three months of 2025 and outlined the objectives for the second quarter.
In 2025, the Board and scientific institutions of the Academy are carrying out research, organizational, and economic activities in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Scientific Activity and State Policy in the Field of Science and Technology,” the National Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan on Science, Technology, and Innovation until 2030, the State Program for the Development of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Tajikistan (2021–2025), the President’s Address to the Supreme Assembly (December 28, 2024), directives from the Head of State during his regional visits, and the Action Plan of the “Year of Agricultural Science and Innovative Technologies.”
The implementation of state programs for the development of various branches of agriculture aims to improve the quality and efficiency of scientific research, train young scientists, enhance the material and technical base of research institutions and experimental farms, and ensure the broad introduction of scientific achievements into production — all of which remain top priorities for the Academy.
The Academy's research institutions are currently conducting work under 59 thematic assignments, 6 international programs, and 3 projects funded by the Presidential Foundation for Fundamental Research. Experimental and demonstration plots have been organized to study modern methods of breeding crops and livestock, cultivation technologies, establishment of intensive orchards, and methods for combating plant and animal diseases and pests, among other areas of work.
During the reporting period, the Academy submitted 49 proposed research projects for 2026–2030 to the Coordination Council for Agricultural Research.
In the first three months of 2025, Academy researchers received 1 inventor's patent, 3 certificates of authorship, 2 decisions, and 1 positive opinion, and submitted 1 additional application for an inventor’s patent. Moreover, a new medium-staple cotton variety was submitted to the State Commission for Testing and Protection of Plant Varieties of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan for evaluation. Reports were also delivered by the directors of the Institutes of Biological Safety and Biotechnology, Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural Economics and Systems Research, and the National Center for Genetic Resources.
Dr. M. Niyatov, Scientific Secretary of the Academy, reported on the implementation of the State Program for the Development of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Tajikistan (2021–2025) over the period 2021–2024 and the first quarter of 2025. He emphasized the importance of improving the quality and effectiveness of agricultural research in light of climate change, ensuring competitiveness of scientific output, expanding the dissemination and implementation of research findings and innovative technologies in production, and contributing to increased agricultural output and national food security. To this end, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan approved a comprehensive state plan on April 30, 2021.
The program consists of 7 sections, 50 items, and 4 appendices. The implementation plan includes 7 key activities, which have been largely fulfilled in the Academy's institutions during 2021–2024 and the first quarter of 2025.
During the implementation period (2021–Q1 2025), Academy scientists obtained 23 inventor’s patents, 112 certificates of authorship in the field of crop production and plant variety rights, 16 positive expert conclusions, and 11 patent decisions, and submitted 15 new patent applications.
Research continues in the Academy’s institutions based on government orders related to the development of the agricultural sector, including work in breeding, seed production, crop and livestock farming, intensive horticulture, and pest and disease control.
To enhance the quality and efficiency of research, laboratory infrastructure was improved, and more than 287 researchers with doctoral and candidate degrees, 14 Academy members, 134 PhD candidates, 196 master's students, and 96 postgraduates are actively involved in research.
From 2021 to the first quarter of 2025, 56 scientists participated in internships and professional development programs across 22 countries.
Notably, the implementation rate of the Academy’s State Program (2021–2025) over 2021–2024 and Q1 2025 is as follows:
Patent acquisition – 68%
Plant variety rights certificates – 190%
Development of new crop varieties – 292%
Development of livestock breeds and types – 167%
Development of vaccines and veterinary products – 94%
Publication of books, monographs, and brochures – 195%
Release of recommendations and manuals – 85%
Overall, the program’s implementation level stands at 156%, and the Academy is working toward full implementation by the end of 2025.
Sh.N. Dzhumaev, Head of the Department of Science, Education, and Training of Scientific Personnel at the Academy, delivered a report on the training of scientific personnel. He emphasized that developing specialists and highly qualified scientific staff is one of the Academy’s main priorities.
Currently, the Academy operates under a license from the Agency for Supervision in the Sphere of Education and Science under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, offering:
Master’s programs in 18 specialties
PhD (doctoral) programs in 33 specialties
Postgraduate programs in 20 specialties
Admission statistics are as follows:
Master’s program:
2021: 36 out of 166 applicants (21.7%)
2022: 27 out of 109 (24.8%)
2023: 26 out of 133 (19.5%)
2024: 42 out of 147 (38.6%)
PhD program:
2021: 23 out of 192 (11.9%)
2022: 18 out of 169 (10.6%)
2023: 30 out of 144 (20.8%)
2024: 13 out of 157 (8.3%)
Currently, 65 students are enrolled in master’s programs, 50 in PhD programs, and 30 in postgraduate programs.
One of the main reasons for the under-enrollment in master’s and doctoral programs is the lack of outreach to university graduates and insufficient efforts to attract young professionals to research careers. In this regard, heads of institutions were instructed to meet with university graduates before the end of the academic year and recruit promising young specialists into research.
Key tasks include addressing the shortage of scientific personnel, developing scientific schools, improving the quality of young scientists’ research, ensuring timely selection of relevant topics, and successful defense of dissertations.
In conclusion, Academy President Amonullo Salimzoda gave a positive assessment of the Academy’s activities and its institutions, while also identifying areas for improvement and setting objectives for further progress.
