Embassy News

USDA Research Leader to Visit Turkmenistan and attend Melon Day Events

PAS No 189
August 09, 2007

Several types of melons grown in the United States

Ashgabat, August 09, 2007 – On August 10, United States Department of Agriculture researcher James D McCreight will arrive in Turkmenistan for a week-long working visit to include Melon Day festivities.  In cooperation with Turkmenistan's State Association of the Food Industry, Mr. McCreight will participate in Melon Day events.  His schedule in Ashgabat includes presentations on melon breeding in the United States for officials and staff of the Departments of Science and Crop Protection at the Ministry of Agriculture.  He will also conduct a presentation for staff of the National Institute of Desert, Flora and Fauna on strategies to control melon pests. 

Mr. McCreight will travel to Mary, Lebap and Dashoguz welayats to meet with local farmers and continue his discussions on agriculture at a variety of agricultural sites.  Local agricultural specialists, including alumni of the Cochran Fellowship Program, will also have the opportunity to meet with Mr. McCreight during his visit.

Mr. McCreight is the author of various publications on analysis of plant traits, fruit yields, and pest control for melons.  He has also conducted research on the evaluation, enhancement, and breeding of lettuce, spinach, melon and other related species.

The Cochran Fellowship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Government and offers a two-week training program in the United States for agricultural specialists.  Since the program began in Turkmenistan in 1993, over 100 Turkmen specialists have been provided training in the U.S. on a variety of agricultural topics including plant protection, animal health, water management, agribusiness development, and farm management.  More information can be found at http://turkmenistan.usembassy.gov/cochran.html