Tajik president urges citizens to store foods for two years
DUSHANBE. Sept 2 (Interfax) - Tajikistan is living through an economic crisis, the cold winter awaits the country again and republican residents should make food stocks for two years, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon said on Tuesday.
"In the last few years, particularly this year, a complicated geopolitical situation in the world, a decline in the growth of economic development and the exchange rates of national currencies of main trade partners of our country, changes in the prices of main types of export and import produce on global markets continue to exert an influence on socio-economic development in Tajikistan," Rakhmon told students of the Kulyab State University on the occasion of Knowledge Day.
The Tajik somoni exchange rate to the U.S. dollar has dropped sharply following the currencies of Tajik main trade partners - Russia and Kazakhstan. "This tendency has a negative impact on financial and banking activity, the national currency exchange rate, foreign trade volumes and incomes of the population," the Tajik leader said.
"Already for several years we have been calling on people to store food products for next two years. This is very important. Particularly this year, when the country has an abundant farming output, each family should take advantage of this," the Tajik president said.
"The coming of a too-cold autumn and winter season is probable," the Tajik leader said. "According to observations and people's experience, after a too-hot summer a long, cold winter usually comes," Rakhmon said.