New president of Turkmenistan says food abundance needs to be ensured

ASHGABAT. March 20 (Interfax) - Ensuring food abundance in Turkmenistan is one of the main tasks, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow said at his inauguration ceremony on Saturday. His speech was published in the Sunday edition of the newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan.

"For that purpose, we will create modern production facilities to produce competitive, environmentally friendly and high-quality agricultural products that meet international standards," the president said.

"Producing a broad range of import-substitution agricultural products, we will increase its export volumes," Berdimuhamedow said.

"The volume of investment to buy highly efficient agricultural equipment from foreign countries will be increased," he said.

"Modern energy conservation technologies will be introduced in production on a permanent basis, and previous irrigation methods will be increased," Berdimuhamedow said.

"Special attention will be given to the development of animal husbandry in the country, increasing the number of heads of cattle and birds, expanding the selection activities in accordance with scientifically substantiated methods," the president said.

Berdimuhamdow also promised to continue "the important work to increase the number of Akhal-Teke horses and their world glory, preserve and enrich the extensive traditions of the national dog breeder school, the breeding of Turkmen Alabay shepherd dogs."