On July 9, 2025, an extended meeting of the Board of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Tajikistan (AAST) was held to review the results of the activities of AAST’s scientific institutions for the first six months of 2025.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan, esteemed Bahrom Ahmadzoda, the Vice-Rector of Tajik Agrarian University named after Sh. Shohtemur, Tohir Mirzoalizoda, directors of scientific institutions, branches, and production farms, academicians, corresponding members of the Academy, scientists, and specialists.
On the first agenda item, the Deputy President of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Tajikistan, Davlatali Tolibzoda, presented a report on the activities of AAST’s scientific institutions for the first half of 2025. He emphasized that “The Founder of Peace and National Accord – the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, esteemed Emomali Rahmon, highlighted in his address that agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the national economy, and the country’s food security directly depends on the level of its development.”
The Board and the scientific institutions of the Academy have carried out their scientific, organizational, and economic activities during the first six months of 2025 in accordance with a number of laws, strategies, and state programs, as well as the President’s Address to the Supreme Assembly of the Republic of Tajikistan (December 28, 2024) and the Government resolution on the results of socio-economic development of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2024 and tasks for 2025 (January 17, 2025). The leadership instructions of the Head of State during working visits to cities and districts of the republic and state programs for the development of various agricultural sectors are also priorities in the Academy’s work.
The Academy’s structure includes 7 research institutes and 4 scientific centers. The scientific institutions operate 24 branches, stations, bases, and experimental farms.
A total of 1,121 people work in these institutions, including 527 scientific staff, among whom are 59 doctors of science and 161 candidates of science. Additionally, 34 doctors and 41 candidates of science from universities and other institutions across the country are engaged. The Academy includes 8 academicians, 6 corresponding members of AAST, and 2 foreign members.
According to the plans of the Academy’s research work on 59 commissioned topics and 7 international programs, scientists of the Academy’s institutions obtained 5 patents, 12 certificates of authorship in plant breeding, 2 positive expert evaluations, and filed 1 patent application and initial patent during the reporting period.
The Academy’s scientists also submitted to the State Commission for Testing and Protection of Crop Varieties of the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan one new variety of medium-long staple early-maturing cotton and one new fruit tree variety for study.
For the preparation of scientific personnel, the graduate school, master’s, and doctoral programs are attended by 60 master’s students, 46 PhD candidates, 13 postgraduate students, and 41 applicants for academic degrees. Women constitute 37.3% of the total number of master’s students, doctoral candidates, and applicants.
During the reporting period, 4 doctoral, 6 candidate, and 19 master’s theses were defended. A total of 377 scientific works were published, including 4 books, 6 monographs, 3 journals, 20 methodological guidelines, 13 recommendations, 8 brochures, 1 promotional poster, and 322 scientific articles. Thirty-three events were organized: 1 international scientific-practical conference, 1 international scientific-practical seminar, 2 republican and 2 regional conferences, 13 regional seminars, 11 field days, 2 round tables, and 1 farmer’s day.
To popularize scientific achievements, Academy scientists made 379 television appearances and 48 radio broadcasts, and published 11 popular science articles in official publications.
The Academy’s scientific institutions actively participated in republican events celebrating Sada, Nowruz, Tirgon, including organizing the “Apricot Day and Tajikistan Dried Fruits Exhibition.”
According to the decrees of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Nos. AP-709 and AP-710 dated January 2, 2025, republican competitions “Furugi Subhi Donoi Kitob Ast” and “Ilm – Furugi Maarifat” were held in AAST’s scientific institutions. Fifty-eight people participated in the competitions, with 21 reaching the district stage, and 2 winners of the “Ilm – Furugi Maarifat” contest advancing to the city stage.
The Academy maintains close ties with international organizations, development partners, and scientific research institutions of foreign countries. Thirty-five Academy scientists participated in training courses, conferences, and seminars in nine foreign countries, including Kathmandu (Nepal), China, Russia, the USA, Italy, Japan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
In preparation for the 35th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan, beautification and construction work continues at the Academy’s scientific institutions and branches. A modern kindergarten named “Bahor” with 185 places was opened at the branch of the Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture, and Vegetable Growing with the participation of the President of the country.
To implement the State Afforestation Program until 2040, regular clean-up days are held at Academy institutions, more than 60,000 seedlings of fruit and ornamental trees, grapevine cuttings, and seasonal flowers have been planted. In the Academy’s territorial jurisdiction along the Dushanbe-Varzob highway, over 900 seedlings of coniferous and deciduous trees have been planted.
In the discussion of this agenda item, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, esteemed Bahrom Ahmadzoda, the Vice-Rector of Tajik Agrarian University named after Sh. Shohtemur, Tohir Mirzoalizoda, and directors of scientific institutions spoke positively about the Academy’s activities.
In conclusion, the President of AAST, corresponding member of AAST, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Amonullo Faizullo Salimzoda noted that in accordance with the appeal of the Head of State to the intelligentsia on May 30, 2024, the Academy declared 2025 the “Year of Development of Agricultural Science and Innovative Technologies.”
Specific tasks and assignments have been given to each scientific institution of the Academy, and scientists are obliged to fulfill them. Certain achievements have already been made, including attracting a larger number of talented graduates to master’s, doctoral, and PhD programs; defending 4 doctoral and 6 candidate theses in six months; participation of 58 scientists and staff in republican competitions; signing international cooperation agreements with several foreign scientific institutions; increasing the number of publications in international scientific journals (RINC, SCOPUS, COA RF, ELibrary) and raising the Hirsch index of 156 scientists; introduction of innovative technologies in agriculture (for example, the use of innovative cotton cultivation technology with film covering and normal irrigation on 15 hectares at the Institute of Crop Production); study of soil conditions in agricultural districts using satellite technologies (GIS); development and production of domestic veterinary drugs for prevention and treatment of infectious and invasive diseases of farm animals with a capacity of up to 1 million doses; breeding of the new “Guzni” sheep breed of the Hissar breed; providing agricultural producers with seeds of new crop varieties and hybrids in the amount of up to 16,000 tons, and much more.
