Steering committee meeting of the “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project”

Then, a brief report on the project implementation in 2025 and tasks for 2026 was presented by the Director of the State Institution “Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development,” Mr. Daler Satori. He emphasized that the institution operates based on the instructions of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, and is actively working to develop agriculture, digitalize the sector, and support industrialization, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and other state bodies, ensuring effective and targeted implementation of the project “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project.”

To strengthen the agricultural sector, within the project framework, 2,720 tons of elite seeds (including wheat, cotton, and potatoes), along with mineral fertilizers, have been distributed to seed farms, the private sector, and institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Tajik Agrarian University for reproduction purposes.

Additionally, to improve productivity and sustainability, farms have been equipped with MTZ-80 and MTZ-82 tractors, crawler tractors, laser land levelers, and other agricultural machinery.

To support small farms, 4,937 tons of seeds (across 9 crop types), along with fertilizers, mini tractors, motor blocks, rice transplanters, and combine harvesters, have been distributed to 28,274 vulnerable farms.

In this regard, to support smallholder farms, nine types of agricultural crop seeds totaling 4,937 tons, along with mineral fertilizers, as well as small tractors and power tillers with their attachments, rice transplanters, and rice harvesters, were provided and distributed to 28,274 vulnerable farms.

At the same time, within the framework of the Project, construction and rehabilitation works of several facilities of scientific and agricultural institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Food Safety Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Tajik Agrarian University named after Sh. Shotemur have been fully completed and put into operation.

Currently, construction works are underway at two agro-logistics centers located in Jaloliddini Balkhi District of Khatlon Region and Khujand City of Sughd Region, in accordance with the plan. At the same time, feasibility assessments and design works are ongoing in Danghara District of Khatlon Region and Khorugh City of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). Construction of the agro-logistics center in Dushanbe City is at the initial stage.

In addition, the construction of two modern greenhouses in Khatlon Region and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region is nearing completion.

In order to transition to modern and digital agriculture, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan, the digitalization of the agricultural sector is being actively implemented. At the same time, in cooperation with the Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the digitalization of soil mapping is being carried out with the involvement of international companies.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, within the framework of the Project, 353,000 packages of iron sulfate and folic acid were procured for pregnant and lactating women, and 1,300,000 packages of micronutrient powder were procured and distributed to children aged 6 to 59 months.

Analysis by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection indicates that, as a result of this distribution, the rate of anemia among pregnant women has decreased by 9.2% compared to previous years.

With the support of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, a Subsidiary State Enterprise “Food Fortification Revolving Fund” was established under the State Unitary Enterprise “Food Products” to support the fortification of wheat flour and table salt. The procurement and supply of vitamin additives (premixes) are currently at the tender stage.

During the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan, Hakimzoda Qurbon, noted that in recent years, considering global challenges related to food security and climate change, and under the direct guidance and leadership of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, as well as the Government of the Republic, increased attention has been given to attracting investment into the country’s socio-economic sectors, particularly agriculture. This compels us to further strengthen cooperation with development partners to attract greater investment.

During the meeting, according to the agenda, detailed presentations were delivered on the progress achieved and future activities by the representative of the World Bank Group, Hambal Hazem Ibrahim, the Deputy Director of the Institution, Qurbonzoda Boimurod, and the Head of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Tajikistan, Agasi Harutyunyan.

At the conclusion of the meeting, decisions were adopted to ensure the timely implementation of planned activities, and specific instructions and assignments were given to the responsible parties.