JICA and AKF continue supporting development of agribusiness in Tajikistan

JICA Tajikistan Office says JICA continues providing technical support to the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan (MoA) in the development of agribusiness in Tajikistan, having the Aga Khan Foundation  (AKF) in Tajikistan as an implementing partner.

Also, in the frame of JICA’s ongoing support on “Agribusiness Development”, JICA and a MoA reportedly agreed to introduce Small Horticulture Empowerment Promotion (SHEP) model in Tajikistan as the first case in Central Asia.  In addition, JICA and AKF in Tajikistan will assist the MoA to strengthen the technical capacity of farmers in response to COVID-19 pandemic situation.

In this regard, on January 28, a signing ceremony for the implementation of the Pilot Project for Agribusiness Development in Tajikistan took place at the MoA.  The Agreement was signed by Mr. Muneo Takasaka, Chief Representative of JICA and Kishwar Abdulalishoyev, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AKF in Tajikistan.

The Project is funded by the Government of Japan through JICA and to be implemented by AKF within the framework of MoA’s Action Plan under the COVID-19 pandemic. The duration of the Project is 15 months. The target districts to be covered by the project are Khuroson, Qubodyon, Shahritous and two districts in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).

The project reportedly aims to support the people of Tajikistan in ensuring food security through access to quality consulting services, provision of high quality seed and improving the sector with establishment of necessary infrastructure in target areas.  In addition, the project intends to disseminate the SHEP approach to build the capacity of the farmers to be focused on the market oriented agriculture, through improved extension services.  The specialists will be trained to effectively utilize SHEP model in order to further disseminate SHEP among farmers in Tajikistan.

The Government of Japan and JICA are committed to support the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to achieve one of its strategic goals “Ensuring Food Security.”  Therefore, JICA intends to provide further assistance for the development of agricultural sector as one of the focus of its activities in Tajikistan.

Both JICA and AKF have been providing support to the Government of Tajikistan to improve livelihood and ensure food security.  Together with the Government of Tajikistan, JICA and AKF will continue enhance agriculture production to achieve the SDG 2 and ensure access to high quality food for all.

JICA began its technical cooperation with Tajikistan in 1993 by inviting Tajik officials to gain knowledge and experience on governance and macroeconomics development.  As of March 2020, a total number of participants to JICA’s Knowledge Co-Creation Programs, formerly called the Training Programs, has exceeded 2380 people. JICA Office was established in 2006 in Tajikistan and since then various Grant Financial Assistance and Technical Cooperation projects have been implemented more dynamically, aiming at improving living standard of Tajik people for the sectors such as agriculture and rural development, water supply, health, transport, energy, capacity building as well as SME promotion.  JICA’s cumulative investment portfolio in Tajikistan in all sectors comprises 41 projects amounting to more than 407.8 million USD (90.16 million USD for Technical Cooperation and 317.7 million USD for Grant Assistance), including 12 ongoing projects.             

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has been implementing innovative development solutions in Tajikistan since 1993.  Central to its efforts have been inclusive, community-based development approaches in which local organizations identify, prioritize and implement projects with the Foundation’s assistance.  The Foundation’s programs in Tajikistan focus on four areas: rural development, health, education and civil society.  Its initiatives address cross-cutting concerns including gender equality, pluralism, human resource development and public awareness of development issues.  Through its activities in all four regions of Tajikistan, AKF is reaching over one million people.