Ashgabat, 28 September 2010 – Residents of Caspian settlements of Chekishlyar, Garagel, Belek and Gyzylsuw of Balkan province who started small oazis farming activities had an opportunity to enlarge their knowledge and get professional consultancy in the course of a seminar in Etrek village of Balkan province organized by the by the joint project of the UN Development Program, Global Environment Facility and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan.

The seminar was attended by representatives of the Esenguly administration, Etrek Scientific and Experimental Station for Subtropical Plants, Hazar State Reserve, Administration for Nature protection in Balkan Province, Institute of Desert, Flora and Fauna, Hazar Project as well as specialists of agricultural sector.

In the course of the seminar the leading specialists of the Institute of Desert, Flora and Fauna and Etrek Scientific and Research Station for Subtropical Plants presented participants methods of selecting agricultural crops that are the most endurable in local climatic conditions and methods of their growing with the usage of modern techniques of watering such as drip irrigation which allows to save water five times more than the usual methods of irrigation.

The experience of growing the olive trees, which are very suitable for climatic conditions of Caspian settlements requiring less of fresh water, arose big interest of participants.

Together with experts participants of the workshop visited the Etrek station for subtropical crops where they acquainted with techniques of creation and growing agricultural crops in greenhouses. Particular attention was given to the selection of place for building greenhouse, preparation of soil for seeding, and methods of drip irrigation.

At the end of the seminar all participants received seeds of various crops and guidances on growing fruits and vegetables in greenhouses.

The UNDP/GEF project “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in the Hazar Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast” implemented jointly with the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan holds such seminars with the objective of developing alternative activities among local people that reduce anthropogenic pressure on biological resources of the Caspian Sea.