DUSAHNBE, July 18, Asia-Plus -- Some 6,500 hectares of new lands have been developed in Tajikistan in January-June 2006, Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources, Abduqohir Nazriov, told a news conference in Dushanbe on July 17.  

According to him, under the program adopted by the government not less than 12,000 hectares of new lands should be developed in the country annually.  

“I can say with confidence that this year’s target on development of new lands will be fulfilled,” the minister noted.  

He also added that under a long-term government program for development of new lands in mountain areas it is planned to develop 1,000 hectares in the mountain areas this year.  “Of them, 849 hectares will be developed in Rasht Valley,” Mr. Nazriov said.  He also added that it was planned to gradually develop some 7,000 hectares of lands in Rasht Valley within the next four years.