“How to produce high-quality pistachios– new, cost effective solution for efficient usage of the dry land in the Tashkent region”. Specialists and organizers of the open workshop held on February 24th in Tashkent answered this as well as many other questions. The workshop was attended by farmers and local ranchers (dekhans) from the area. The Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) with support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as well as Michael Succow Foundation for Nature Protection, State Research and Production Center of Ornamental Gardening and Forestry, and Farmers Council of Uzbekistan organized the workshop.
The main pistachio expert of Uzbekistan- Galina Mikhaylovna Chernova is opening a practical part of the workshop.
For many years GEF SGP is engaged in the research and promotion of advanced technologies and practices for the sustainable use of natural resources in Uzbekistan, improving the livelihoods of local population, generating interaction between people, communities and various organizations, and increasing their role in ensuring the harmonious existence of individuals and the environment.
This time, the GEF SGP with partners successfully held a seminar for farmers and land users in the Tashkent region which was arranged by Farmers Council of Uzbekistan. This initiative aims at conveying experience of using arid and marginal lands through alternative means of existing methods of farming. Establishment of the pistachio and almond plantations in order to preserve biological soil functions and to generate profit furthermore helps to improve living standards of the farmers and local communities.
A pioneer farmer- Pistachio professional Bastamkul Saidkulov
Farmer Bastamkul Saidkulov planted 30 hectares in the Jizzakh region during the very first attempt to spread the technology of pistachio within the framework of the SGP project that took place in 2009. To date, he planted more than 50 hectares. This project has demonstrated that a grafting material is needed for the effective dissemination of high-quality pistachios across the country. In order to produce and supply the grafting material, you need to have proper nursery. For the wide dissemination of the pistachio, you need to have a nursery with varieties and forms suitable for growing in different forest areas of the country. The GEF Small Grants Programme supports a project aimed at establishment of a varietal pistachio nursery in Gallyaral district of Jizzakh region using the property that belongs to Republican Research and Production Center of Ornamental Gardening and Forestry.
Galina Mikhailovna Chernova during training at the plantation in Gallyaral district in July 2012 (photo from the GEF SGP archive)
At the moment, the nursery has a large collection of different varieties and forms of pistachio. This collection will serve as a source of grafting material, which in turn will be used to create the master plantation, where later a farmer, forestry, any other person or organization will be able to buy the grafting material.
Likewise, there were projects in Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, and Andijan regions. As a result of SGP project work, Andijan region is setting up a nursery for Fergana Valley. The GEF SGP has accumulated a great deal of practical experiences in producing pistachio and we continue to spread the knowledge, share experiences and look forward to the wide spread of this technology across the country. The pistachio was of a high interest to many farmers and land users in many regions of the country. Lately, demand for pistachio planting materials has significantly increased calls to the GEF SGP Office about purchasing seedlings.
However, majority of the target audience foraudience for GEF SGP and its partners are still insufficiently informed about alternative use of drylands, where maximum benefits can be obtained and further degradation and soil aridization can be prevented. In this regard, the workshop was planned and designed to make farmers of the Tashkent foothills aware of the nurseries with varietal pistachio and identify prospects for a creation of the master nursery using their help.
Evgeniy Botman is talking about the advantages of growing pistachio
Of course, we would want to introduce our scientists-heroes to those who are not familiar with them. None of this would be possible without them. Team of pistachio experts including a project manager Evgeniy Botman presented a technology of the pistachio farming at the seminar. He explained why do they offer to cultivate pistachio. Then, the main pistachio expert in Uzbekistan and avid admirer of pistachio throughout her life, Galina Mikhaylovna Chernova took the stand.
She told participants about biology of pistachio (lat. Pistacia vera) and variety of pistachios that exist in Uzbekistan among other interesting facts. A scientific researcher Timur Tulyaganov talked about the establishment of the pistachio plantations. In addition to it, Evgeniy Botman spoke about arrangements for the future pistachio site and preparatory, ground works. In his turn, senior scientific researcher Lyutsian Nikolyai (the author of numerous photos on pistachio, an excellent photographer and photo-chronicler of the history of the pistachio's revival in Uzbekistan) told the guests about pistachio seeds planning for the future pistachio site and carrying out preparatory ground works.
Pistachio Expert Team
Also, the technique of inoculation of new plantations and reconstruction and maintenance works of existing plantations were discussed. In addition, the specialists talked about caring for young and mature plantations, about harvesting, as well as about promising varieties of pistachio and conditions for high-quality pistachio development in Uzbekistan.
Participants learned a lot of new and interesting things, but it was impossible to fit all the knowledge about this unique gift of nature, that is able to produce fruits for many years, and, potentially become a symbol of Uzbekistan or so that we like to see. After all, the information and love for pistachio were gathered over many decades by generations of our ancestors. Pistachio is a story of humanity, like a queen ant, producing fruit throughout its life. The main pistachio supporter Galina Chernova, driven by her feelings, suggested celebrating 24 February as the Pistachio National Day and marking this date on the calendars. Her proposition was happily accepted by all participants and organizers of the seminar.
Timur Tulyaganov is talking about the establishment of pistachio plantation
Lyutsian Nikolyai discussing techniques of planting pistachio seeds and seedlings
Speaking of the practical part of the workshop, it should be noted that, during the seminar, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire, and based on its outcome the organizers are planning to make a selection among potential farmers for creation of “growth points” of varietal pistachios in the Tashkent region. Selected farmers will be interviewed to further define areas for “growth points” in the area after evaluation of the questionnaires is complete.
Participants of the seminar responds to questions
There are around 700 thousand hectares of the naturally irrigated land in Adyr’s and Foothills area according to Goskomzemgeodezkadastr, Uzbekistan’s State Land Management Agency data from 2007. Such land exists in many regions, including Tashkent. Currently, these lands are used mainly for rainfed grain crops (wheat), oilseeds (safflower) as well as pasture. Crop harvest in these areas depends mostly on the rainfall in a particular year, but rarely exceeds 8-10 ton per hectare and it happens only once in 3-5 years. In other years, yield only covers the seeding or is completely lost. Pastures in the area are prone to degradation from overgrazing. The economic pressure on the land has continued to widen and that puts those properties at risk of becoming a desert. It is becoming increasingly risky to engage in animal breeding and/or agriculture on naturally irrigated land. Therefore, it is time to think about more sustainable farming in these conditions and to find alternative land management practices that could bring a profit even with the climate change as well as restoring healthy state and functions of ecosystems of arid zones for their sustainable use. Practice shows that even perfectly executed land use tactics are useless if they do not take into the account the needs and interests of the local population.
Such alternatives do exist. Foothills of Central Asia are historic home to pistachio. There are numerous indications that, in earlier times, these lands were occupied by forests of pistachios, almonds and other drought-resistant species of trees and bushes.
It should be noted that even small initiatives can make a difference and contribute to maintaining a healthy environment on our planet. Healthy nature, in turn, directly serves the interests of human development, and the well-being of our tomorrow depends on sustainable use of natural resources.
It was repeatedly noted at the seminar that Uzbekistan has all the capabilities to lead the list of producers and suppliers of pistachios to the world market and to return its former glory of the “country of green gold”. It will be significant achievement if Uzbekistan is identified as a pistachio homeland on the biological world map. It would be highly symbolic to make pistachio a symbol of Uzbekistan as a gift of nature, as a symbol of resistance and incredible adaptability to those natural conditions that are typical for our native land. All it needs is attention, lots of sun, space and love for many years...
A little body often harbours a great soul
The pistachios have much to tell people and there are many other interesting stories are ahead waiting for fans of pistachio...
For more information on the establishment of pistachio plantations please contact:
Republican Research and Production Center of Ornamental Gardening and Forestry
Address: 111104, Tashkent region, Zangiota district, p/o Darkhan. Tel/fax (99871) 225-72-32, 225-71-79
1. Galina Mikhaylovna Chernova - senior researcher, PhD, Agricultural Science. Tel. + 998 90 957 38 62;
2. Evgeniy Konstantinovich Botman - project manager, PhD Candidate, Agricultural Science. Tel. +998 90 174 53 85;
3. Lyutsian Viktorovich Nikolyai - senior researcher. Tel. + 998 94 631 93 17;
4. Timur Ernazarovich Tulyaganov- researcher. Tel. +998 90 372 51 14
Translated by: Yulia Lushnikova
