Agriculture Technology Program for Turkmenistan

Weidemann Associates, Inc.is currently implementing the Agriculture Technology Program (ATP) for Turkmenistan. ATP is a 4-year economic growth program launched in September 2010, with the purpose of increasing rural farmers’ household income and enhancing the competitiveness of the dairy and greenhouse horticulture value chains. Weidemann Associates, Inc. has developed a targeted technical approach to implementing high-impact activities in the livestock and horticulture value chains to achieve the following objectives:

Objective 1: Improve genetics, education and organizations for private livestock producers: this will be achieved through capacity building of local artificial insemination (AI) providers, establishment of a pilot artificial insemination center, veterinarian training in animal health practices, development of a cost-effective feed mix for dairy cattle, and procurement of needed equipment by the Turkmenistan Livestock Association.

Objective 2: Introduce successful agribusiness practices: the project will focus on greenhouse horticulture production through a series of training activities intended to increase farmer’s knowledge and adoption of improved seed varieties in growing fruits and vegetables and advanced soil management techniques. Additionally, the project may more fully examine export market development and seek to initiate buyer linkages in countries where Turkmenistan’s produce provides a comparative advantage to the market.

Weidemann Associates, Inc. has successfully managed to set a strong foundation for future project assistance by already implementing the following key activities:

• Conducted three training-of-trainer (TOT) sessions in Ashgabat to build a pool of qualified trainers from all 5 veleyats to disseminate information to farmers:
  
  
• • - Artificial Insemination: 8-week practical training for AI service providers using 4 demonstration farms. The project successfully imported 11 portable
  •   AI kits and 800 doses of Holstein and Brown Swiss semen to conduct insemination at the farm level.
    
    
  • - Livestock Health Improvement: 3-day training for veterenarians in herd and feed management.
    
    
  • - Greenhouse Horticulture Improvement: 3-day training for agronomists and farmers in greenhouse renovation/management, soil management and
  •   plant care.
    
    
• - Launched the Livestock Health Improvement and Greenhouse Horticulture Improvement regional training program in the veleyats using TOT
•   trainers
  
  
• - Renovated 3 demonstration greenhouses for use during regional Greenhouse Horticulture Improvement training
  
  
• - Partnered with an international specialist to develop a dairy cattle feed mix which is economically viable based on locally available inputs and   
•   import  constraints for use by farmers
  
  
• - Developed a partnership with a local entrepreneur to develop a pilot AI service center