DUSHANBE, July 18, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Issues related to creation of integration development zones in Tajik agrarian sector were discussed at a meeting of senior representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) with visiting delegation of the India-Central Asian Foundation (ICAF), led by its president Dr. Shri K. Santhanam, in Dushanbe on July 16, Narzullo Dadoboyev, a spokesman for a MoA, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.    

According to him, representatives of ICAF intend to create the integration development zones in Tajikistan, using experience of Indian specialists.  

During the meting, Dr. Santhanam pointed out a considerable role ICAF has played in development of Indian agrarian sector over the last 15 years.  

Deputy Agriculture Minister, Mahmoud Qodirov, for his part, noted that there is good opportunity to expand cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture and launch joint ventures to process farm produce. 

Tajik official also outlined mutual supplies of farm produce, delivery of seeds of high-yielding crops, joint development of dry-farming lands and joint production vaccines for livestock and poultry as areas of which could drive the bilateral agricultural cooperation between the two countries.  He also seconded ICAF’s proposal to open its office in Tajikistan, the spokesman said.  

To realize the discussed objectives the sides decided to set up a joint working group that will consist of representatives of the governments, agrarian sectors and MFAs of the two countries.  

Dadoboyev added that the sides had agreed that the working group will prepare a draft cooperation agreement within the next four months.  The project itself is designed for two years, according to him.  

He noted that the integration development zones are dedicated to increase grain yields, establish highly productive stock-rising, poultry farms and specialized centers for growing flowers, as well as produce and export fruit and milk products, etc.  

They also intend to set up agricultural training centers to improve knowledge of Tajik youth for further study at Indian universities, Dadoboyev said.   

The ICAF delegation arrived in Tajikistan on July 16 for a weeklong working visit.  During their stay in Tajikistan, the ICAF representatives are scheduled to hold talks with representatives of the government, MFA and other organizations o f the country.  

The India – Central Asian Foundation (ICAF), New Delhi, India was established on March 1, 2005. ICAF is governed by a Governing Body (GB) whose members are distinguished personalities from various walks of life. 

The India Central Asia Foundation has been set up in Delhi as a Track-II non-profit enterprise whose objectives would include the following: to establish and promote bilateral interactions in social, economic, cultural, political, strategic and related areas to mutual benefit; to facilitate and promote exchange of scholars and other professionals; to build and foster appropriate linkages with institutions in  Central Asia; to create a contemporary data base of relevance to scholars and business persons; to create and maintain a data base of various publications in Central Asian countries and provide document translations as part of information dissemination services; and, to generate funds from membership fees, sponsored research, publications etc for activities of the Foundation.