January 2010

Source: Fous on Seed Programs, ICARDA

Introduction

Turkmenistan is located in south west Central Asia and lies within 35048’ and 42048’ N and 52027’ and 66041’ E north of the Kopetdag (Gershi) ridge of the Turkmen-Khorasan mountain range between the Caspian sea in the west and Amu Darya river in the east. It is bordered by Kazakhstan (north), Uzbekistan (north east/east), Afghanistan (south-east),  Iran (south) and the Caspian Sea (west). The northern and central part of the country is occupied by a sandy desert in the Turan lowlands, the center by the Zaunguz and the south eastern by the Karakum (about 80% of territory). In the south the desert turns into the Kopetdag hills and foothills. Almost 20% of territory is mountainous.

Turkmenistan has a total area of 49.1 million ha. In 2007, agricultural land covered 40.2 million ha, with about 1.8 million ha arable crop area (irrigated) (of which 0.24% are perennial crops) and pastures occupy close to 38.4 million ha. The expansion of arable land for further development comes mainly from pasture lands which are estimated at 17.7 million ha and located in the old delta and foothill plains.

In 2007, the population was 5.11 million, with 54% living in rural areas. The population density is 13.6 inhabitants/km-2. The country is divided into five administrative provinces (velayats) and 52 districts (etraps), with 21 towns and 76 villages.

Turkmenistan has a continental type climate with very cold winters and very hot and very dry summers. Spring is usually short, from March to April. During the first part of May there is an extreme rise in temperature where frequent rains are common. The summer season is long, from mid May utill the end of September, characterized with high air temperatures of over 40ºС (land temperature in oases is 5- 7ºС higher) and lower air humidity (30-35%). The frost-free period ranges from 187 to 200 days in northern-eastern regions (Dashoguz velayat) and 230-250 days in other regions. Average annual precipitation is around 250 mm. Under arid conditions and high temperatures, evaporation is 20 times higher than precipitation. Thus, agricultural production is mainly based on
irrigation.

Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, using its natural resources (gas) and cotton production to sustain its economic development. Turkmenistan has reached self-sufficiency in food production and reduced food imports. The savings are being directed to investments in the agricultural and other sectors of the economy. However, in order to strengthen the agricultural sector, there is a need diversify crop production, thereby improving the economic well-being of more than 54% of the rural population who depend on agricultural for additional sources of income. Private farms receive state support, there is no taxation, aiming to increase the size of private farms for steady growth in income. However, provision of seed of improved varieties is lacking, and privatization goals remain limited.

Full report

Website: http://www.icarda.org

Published: February 9, 2010