Tajikistan, located in Central Asia, north of Afghanistan, is a poor nation with one of the lowest per capita gross domestic product (GDP) rates (US $600) among the 15 former Soviet republics. Of the country’s total land area, only 6.5 percent is arable – and natural resources remain scarce, which makes unassisted agricultural intensification efforts particularly challenging. Tajikistan’s labor force is also in dire condition, with an estimated one million laborers traveling out of the country regularly for work, partially due to the lack of income opportunity from agricultural efforts. With a U.S. investment of $300 million since 1993, some social and economic advancements have been made, but the agriculture sector – involving 67 percent of the labor force – continues to be an area in great need of international assistance.
The Productive Agriculture in Tajikistan (PRO-APT) project seeks to address these agriculture sector needs by offering the tools necessary for better access to quality inputs, greater crop yields and better market linkages. PRO-APT is a five-year (2009-2014), $9.7 million project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The project’s various components are implemented by IFDC, Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA), Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA) and E-NOETEC Consulting. PRO-APT is designed to increase farmers’ productivity of traditional agricultural crops and strengthen the capacity and profitability of private sector agribusinesses.
The Intensify Farm Productivity (IFP) component of PRO-APT, implemented by IFDC, is an agricultural and livestock intensification program. Through program efforts, IFDC aims to increase crop and livestock production while building market-driven opportunities that improve farmers’ living standards. Through these efforts, the program seeks to increase targeted farmer incomes by an average of 25 percent annually.
Due to the seasonality of crop production, IFDC initiated a rapid IFP program startup in November 2009, focusing on field operations in the provinces of Sughd and western Khatlon as well as districts near the capital of Dushanbe. To adjust for a complex agro-ecosystem, each region involves different strategies, crop/livestock production patterns and returns on investment. Targeted crops within the IFP program include apricots, lemons, onions, tomatoes and melons.
IFDC is also conducting public outreach campaigns to increase program awareness among thousands of farmers. These campaigns feature information on improving productivity and income, private sector voucher programs and collaboration with public and private donor projects to leverage previously established resources.
PRO-APT Information
PRO-APT Articles
PRO-APT Newsletters
January-March 2010 Newsletter
April-May 2010 Newsletter