Tajikistan : Tajikistan Fishing Profile 2011

Over 50,000 tons of trout is possible to breed in reservoirs of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAR) of Tajikistan.

 

According to Akhmajon Gafurov, director general of the Mokhii Tojikiston national enterprise under the Ministry of Agriculture, clean and cold water, which is in abundance in GBAR, provides for successful trout breeding. Currently, 5-6 fisheries in Tajikistan breed trout. After studying the industry’s conditions and considering growing prices for trout, several other companies have shown interest in establishing trout breeding fisheries.

“Now, Tajikistan has about 70 fish farms. The upward trend in fish production and cultivation is well observed in the Khatlon region. However, the industry has a number of serious problems and needs large investments. These include the lack of specialists and technology, and problems with production of fish fodder. The fishing industry needs specialists trained in Turkey and Russia. GBAR fisheries will send a group of young people to study in Russia,” said Gafurov.

Last year, Tajikistan produced 54 tons of fish, while the need is 14,000 tons per year. This year, according to the national program, fish production must reach 700 tons, but in fact this figure may be about 1,000 tons.

The government of Tajikistan has adopted a programme to develop fish farming through 2015 to meet domestic demand for fish. Production will be increased by 2,500 tonnes a year and the area devoted to fish farms will be expanded to 15,000 hectares under the programme, General Director of Tajik Fish Akhmadzhon Gafurov said.

The annual consumption of fresh water fish and seafood in Tajikistan totals an estimated 14,000 tonnes. Last year, however, just 225 tonnes were produced. In the late 1980s, when the fishing industry in Tajikistan was booming, production reached 3,500 tonnes a year.

While economists believe that conditions must be created to attract investment, train workers and increase government financing for fresh water fish farming, the state budget now provides only $100,000 [USD] a year for the industry, which hardly covers the cost of fish feed.

The UN Agricultural Organisation has provided technical aid totalling $27,000 to Tajik Fish to equip a water analysis laboratory. It also plans to provide assistance for increasing the variety of fish farmed and supplying food for them in order to stimulate the growth of the industry.

While much more is needed, Gafurov said the republic now has vast opportunities to expand fish farming since the country has many clean lakes and new reservoirs are being built. Eight reservoirs are being built on the River Vakhsh alone and fish farms will be set up in each of them in an effort to advance Tajikistan’s fish farming goals.