DUSHANBE, July 8, 2014, Asia-Plus – UN FAO has begun implementation of the Tajikistan Agriculture Commercialization Project, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

An official source at a MoA says a total cost of the project, which has been developed within the framework of the agreement that was signed by Tajikistan’s MoA and FAO in late April this year, is 54 million U.S. dollars.

“Specialists from the FAO Investment Center in partnership with the FAO Country Office in Tajikistan have developed the Agriculture Commercialization Project that will be financed by the World Bank,” said the source.  “FAO will also collaborate with a group of specialists from the MoA on improving potential of local personnel on implementation of large-scale investment projects.  The funds for development of the project and training of specialists have been provided by the Government of the Russian Federation through the Trust Fund.”

A team of FAO experts is currently in Tajikistan to devise a detailed plan of work, assess institutional potential, determine requirements for training, and determine fields of cooperation with development programs that are already being implemented in the country and in the region, the source added.

We will recall that the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on June 10 approved a US$22 million grant for the Tajikistan Agriculture Commercialization Project, which builds on the past reforms in agriculture and land, and further expands opportunities for farmers and enterprises to increase productivity and access to domestic and export markets.

Agriculture reportedly accounts for 23 percent of GDP and 48 percent of employment in Tajikistan, so it plays a major role in economic growth and poverty reduction.

The goal of the project is to increase the commercialization of farm and agribusiness products by improving the performance of selected value chains and strengthening productive partnerships through increased access to finance and training. It will also build the government’s capacity for policy and regulatory reforms and support market research and analysis, and modernize the curricula of educational institutions for commercial agribusiness.