Ashgabat. Yildiz hotel. April 3rd – 6th 2018.
The EU Project “Support to Further Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Turkmenistan (SARD III), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy of Turkmenistan (MoAWE) and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan (UoIE), conducted a training seminar on effective crop pest management methodologies for 10 listed key crop pests that are under mandatory quarantine in Turkmenistan.
Laboratory specialists of the State Quarantine Service of the MoAWE, including representatives of the regional branches, as well as agronomist specialists of greenhouse vegetable producer enterprises of UoIE, were the main participants of the programme, which is part of SARD III Capacity Building programme.
The Seminar was opened by Mr Lubomir Frebort, Head of the European Union Liaison Office in Turkmenistan on Tuesday April 3rd 2018.
The seminar programme was conducted by Mr. Ernst Neering, an experienced entomologist from the Netherlands who has worked in many countries across the world, and who was invited to lead the assignment. Over the 3 days, participants were exposed to various effective chemical and biological methods of pest management as well as hearing about measures aimed at prevention of introduction of pests which are not endemic to Turkmenistan. Participants engaged in detailed group works, discussions and Question & Answer sessions during the event. On the final day of the seminar, field visits for participants were organised to tomato and strawberry production greenhouses in Ahal province, thereby enabling them to consolidate what they had learned during theory sessions and presentations.
The training event is targeted to enable relevant specialists of the Quarantine Service and participant producer enterprises to improve their knowledge and skills on effective pest management techniques. The event will also help the Quarantine Services in the Ministry to improve its services provision to an increasing number of current and new private producers of fruit and vegetables, who plan to supply their products to both domestic and neighbouring country export markets.
Feedback from the activity from participants was very positive. Dialogue continues between SARD III and it counterparts to build on what the programme has achieved with a view to consult and plan future capacity building events over the next 2.5 years of project activity.
