On 9 May, 2020 the khyakim of Turkmenbashi etrap of Dashoguz velayat (head of the district) Serdar Meredov paid a visit to the centre of the agricultural association Yalkym to inspect cotton fields.
This was when flour, which is now in short supply, was sold at state prices in a local store. Flour is usually sold with a restriction of 5 kilos per household (sometimes less).
Women in the queue crowded round Meredov and outrageously accused him of the shortage of flour because pursuant to his decision the majority of land plots in Atgyrlan, where up to 25,000 tons of wheat had been grown, were handed over to grow cotton.
In the best case scenarios the wheat crops harvest amounts to 15,000 tons.
After fleeing the crowd of frenzied women, the khyakim sent the police squadron to the store. The law enforcement officers used force to take the women to the village hall for interrogation. Investigating officers from the etrap centre tried to find out who prompted the women to assault the official.
According to locals, S. Meredov owns unofficial personal plots of land in agricultural associations named after Magtymguly, S.Nyýazow and Aýböwür, where rice, sesame, mung bean, Guinea corn, melons and watermelons are grown for him. All expenses are incurred by the farming associations themselves or the etrap department of Оbahyzmat association.
It should be mentioned that over the past few years the capital has been experiencing irregular supply of flour and bread. The situation in the provinces is even more complicated.