Tajik farmers strengthen skills for producing high-quality seeds
Staff Writer |
Wheat has a long history in Tajikistan; it has been grown for more than thousands years. The crop plays a crucial role in people’s wellbeing, particularly in rural areas.
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With a workshop in Dushanbe, an effort to improve small-scale farmers’ access to high-quality seeds concludes. It was implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and funded by Austria. This project, launched in 2012, was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Seed Association of Tajikistan.
Participants of the event were representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Agrarian University of Tajikistan, Seed Association of Tajikistan, the Cooperative “Sarob”, as well beneficiary farmers. During the event they have shared information on challenges and lessons learned, but also on positive experiences, success stories, and goals achieved.
“The project was very timely, and successfully combined distribution of practical and theoretical assistance,” said Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Tajikistan. “It did not only distribute seeds of wheat and other crops, and equipment for seed cleaning, but provided also training to farmers on how to produce high quality seeds by themselves.”
In Tajikistan, almost all wheat produced is used for making bread and other food. Therefore it is a highly respected staple grain for Tajik people. There are various types of bread with different shapes and ingredients, for example girdacha, fatir, kulcha, chapoti and others. Besides wheat, Tajik farmers grow other crops, such as pulses, oilseeds, forage crops, and rice.
In total, some 2800 and 4000 farmers beneficiaries in fifteen districts of Tajikistan, including districts of the Khatlon and Sughd regions, and Rasht and Hisor valleys benefited directly and indirectly this project. The project included a number of activities such as trainings for farmers and seed specialists, distribution of equipment, wheat breeding and maintenance activities, producing publications and extension services materials, and developing policies and strategies. ■
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