DUSHANBE, April 15, 2011, Asia-Plus  - More than 19,000 hectares of lands remained uncultivated last year and 32,000 hectares of lands have remained abandoned in recent years due to negligent work of relevant public institutions.

According to the presidential press service, President Emomali Rahmon remarked this while addressing an international conference on agricultural reforms that has opened in Dushanbe today.

Rahmon noted that food market remained vulnerable and depended considerably on imports.  Increasing international food prices force governments of emerging countries to carry out cardinal agricultural reforms, Rahmon said.

He stressed that measures taken by the governments of countries throughout the world to ensure agricultural output growth should also provide a rational use of land, water and environment.

In the near future, Tajikistan should meet at least 80 percent of the population’s food requirements on its own and the government must take efficient measures for this, the president noted.