Ashgabat, 19 January 2010 – At the end of December the Khazar project held a seminar on using modern methods of irrigation in small farming agriculture at the coastal area of Caspian Sea for people representing four pilot settlements, namely Chekichler, Garagol, Belek and Gyzylsuw, of Balkan province. The seminar was attended by representatives of regional and local administration and specialists of agriculture.

In the course of the seminar the project experts have informed participants on the results of working trip of scientists to Garagel, Belek and Gyzylsuw settlements undertaken in October 2009. This trip resulted in obtaining data about locally growing plants, depth of ground waters and the extent of soil salinizaton. On the basis of this data, different and locally applicable methods of watering with the use of modern methods of irrigation were considered. For example, for Gyzylsuw settlement where water for growing vegetables and melons is absent the use of plastic bottles that allows for drip irrigation by intersoil method were recommended.

Drip irrigation with the use of plastic bottles, on the ground and intersoil methods was recommended for growing fruits, subtropical and decorative plants. It was noted, that for the existing conditions of Belek and Garagel settlements, where access to piped water is available, application of drip irrigation of modern type is possible.

At the seminar the experience of Chekishlayr settlement with it’s non-water agriculture was considered, where different fruits, decorative, subtropical vegetable and melon crops are grown. Experienced gardeners noted this practice as a very promising one for the Gyzylsuw settlement as well. At the practical sessions participants could apply the obtained knowledge in practice.

Also, participants were demonstrated methods of growing vegetable crops in protected soil in winter period and by method of building greenhouse with drip system of irrigation.

Upon completion of the seminar, participants were given methodological guidances on growing vegetables in greenhouses, agrothechnics of growing subtropical crops and recommendations on year round provision of people with vegetables. For the needs of pilot settlements 14 types of vegetables, fruits and decorative plants, 2-3 year seedlings of subtropical fruits and decorative tree plantations were given.

The Khazar project pays big attention to the development of small-farming in pilot settlements as one of the key elements in introducing alternative means of income for local population to reduce anthropogenic pressure on biological resources of Caspian sea.