President Serdar Berdimuhamedov made a working visit to the Ahal velayat on 17 June 2026, touring wheat fields and a grain-processing exhibition in the Ak Bugdai district to mark the start of this year’s harvest.
The visit is part of a broader government program to modernize Turkmenistan’s agricultural sector, including the construction of grain elevators, agro-processing plants, fertilizer plants and water-management facilities. The program, initiated under National Leader Arkadag Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, is being implemented under President Berdimuhamedov.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov first visited a wheat field belonging to the Gäwers peasant association, where he was received by officials from the agro-industrial complex and the regional governor. Officials said high-yielding wheat varieties had been sown for this year’s crop and that modern combine harvesters were operating around the clock to reduce losses during the harvest.
Under a presidential decree, state procurement prices for wheat, cotton and rice were raised starting with the 2024 harvest — a measure officials cite as part of continued state support for agricultural producers.
The president then visited a field leased by tenant farmer D. Mukhammetsahedov, who has worked the land since 2012. Of his 28-hectare plot, 14 hectares are planted with cotton and 14 with wheat; he said he expects a yield of roughly 40 centners of wheat per hectare.
At the farmer’s request, the president performed a traditional gesture reciting Bismillah, marking the opening of the harvest, cutting a small sheaf of wheat, after which combine harvesters began working the field.
Officials said the grain harvesters deployed in the campaign meet international equipment and production standards. They also pointed to research underway at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Research Institute of Grain Growing, which has developed new winter wheat varieties named “Serdar,” “Arkadag” and “Pyragy.”
During the visit, President Berdimuhamedov spoke with Mukhammetsahedov about his working conditions and the crops grown on his land. The president said the state would continue providing farmers with modern equipment, quality seed and fertilizer, and stressed continued support for tenant farmers as part of efforts to maintain food security.
The president also toured an exhibition featuring fruit, vegetables, grain crops, and bread and bakery products, including baked goods made from this year’s wheat harvest.
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers T. Atakhalliyev briefed the president on the national harvest campaign, reporting that the season had begun in all regions and that agricultural machinery was being deployed at full capacity. The president instructed the deputy prime minister to continue monitoring the harvest, grain storage, and machinery use.
Before departing, President Berdimuhamedov presented gifts to Mukhammetsahedov. /// nCa, 18 June 2026