DUSHANBE, January 23, Asia-Plus -- As of January 1 2005 55,549 hectares of agricultural lands in the republic had been in poor state and the work carried out last year resulted in improvement of reclamation of 12,219 hectares of lands, Abduqohir Nazirov, Minister of Water Resources and Land Reclamation, told journalists on January 20.

“2.27 million Somonis were spent for this,” the minister said, adding that in 2005, 10.46 million Somonis were assimilated last year on capital repairs to the irrigation infrastructure in the country.       

“The Khatlon Water Resources Administration cultivated 4,100 hectares of new lands last year; the Water Resources Administration for Sughd Province cultivated 3,500 hectares of new gardens” said the minister, “Besides, 30 hectares of lands were put into exploitation in Isfara (Sughd Province) and 2,500 hectares of new lands were put into exploitation in Danghara District of Khatlon.”   

“To date, 12,590 people are working with enterprises of the ministry and in 2005, more than 3,000 new jobs were created,” Abduqohir Nazirov said.