Integrated Rural Development Project / GIZ Towards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience (IRDP/TRIGGERII)

The project activities focus on Sughd and Khatlon regions, as well as Districts of Republican Subordination following with the special focus of European funding to Zarafshon and upper Vakhsh valleys. The project will achieve its goals through five components:

1. Improve the business enabling environment and policy dialogue - aims to facilitate dialogue between private and public actors, promotes agricultural reform, green economy and sustainable agriculture principles.
2. Increase productivity of agricultural value chains - targets poverty reduction in rural areas by improving the technical and entrepreneurial competencies of smallholder farmers with a special focus on young and female groups.
3. Promote the access to export markets - the goal is to achieve increased exports, enhanced regional and international cooperation, thus creating employment opportunities.
4. Support business start-ups and promote entrepreneurship - improves the range of support services available to start-ups of young people and entrepreneurs, in particular women.

Improve the enabling environment in the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) – focuses on the Zarafshon and Vakhsh river basins, supports the sustainable use of water and efficient management of Tajikistan water sector.

The coronavirus pandemic had drastic economic impacts on smallholder farmers in Tajikistan. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project envisages to support smallholder farmers by providing seeds, fuel, fertilisers, and other necessary inputs.

Thus, in March 2021, the project allocated funds to form basis for high-quality seed potato production. The project launched the import of 40 MT German variety seed potatoes - Bigrossa, which is known for its good yield. The potato class owned by a German company is well-adapted to highland conditions in Zarafshon and Vakhsh valleys and was tested and registered in Tajikistan national seed catalogue.

Furthermore, the project assisted the implementing partner PO DCBR Jirgital in registering and developing the technical capacity of 80 experienced local potato seed producers to form a potato seed-growing cluster in Lakhsh district.  Each of 80 farmers’ plants will on average grow seed potato on 0.12 hectares of land and total harvest in 2021 is expected to reach 300 tons. The reproduction will continue in 2022 on 85 ha and in year 2, with an expansion to up to 730 hectares, seed will be available for more than 1000 farmers. Latest from third year, potato seeds will be sold to other potato production regions of Tajikistan.

The project supports the training of seed production groups, which will be advised by the agronomist of the organisation and the facilitation and monitoring of the integrity of the reproduction. The dissemination process will be in the hands of the local Public Organization with intensive support of the project. These measures will protect smallholder farmers and reduce their potential risks in future.

One of the main objectives of the project is to improve the export readiness, business skills and inclusive commercial relationships of downstream Small and Medium Enterprises with producing smallholder farmers and as a result their integration into the world market.

The project supported a very dynamic, export-oriented association International Association of Producers and Exporters of Agricultural Products of Tajikistan (IAPEAT), which has proven very successful for accessing higher quality markets of sustainable products, such as dried apricots, apples, etc. including conformity with the ENECE DDP15 standard.

The project assisted the dry fruit and nuts exporter association – with the development of an umbrella brand strategy for international marketing purposes named “Fruitajik”.  The trademark was developed with the help of the professional advertisement company based in Germany and serves to conceive a positive image and reputation for dried apricots of the origin Tajikistan.  

The umbrella branding strategy will allow to integrate a larger number of export-oriented processors and become a forerunner of successful niche branding of Tajik food products in international markets that stand for high quality, naturalness and authenticity. The competitiveness of local products will be increased and the access to domestic and foreign markets improved.