PartnersInstitute and line agency support The research and demonstration subcomponent are strengthen the capacity of scientific institutions and line agencies to help provide necessary technical services including training to communities.
The PMU, PCUs and NGOs are works closely with participating institutions to ensure that this support is phased and coordinated in such a way as to maximize the performance and results of rural production subprojects. The research and demonstration subcomponent includes strengthening the capacity for seeds and seedlings production improvement, and for improved livestock breeding and animal health and husbandry. Analytical support and training on market development are also provided.
Under this the project is strengthen several scientific institutions namely: the Horticultural Research Center «Bogparvar» of Tajikistan’s Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Scientific Research Institute of Forestry, the Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences, the Soil Science Institute of the Academy of Agriculture in Dushanbe, and the Veterinary Institute. The Central Asia and Caucasus (CAC) center of the Consultative Group For International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)] at ICARDA, Tashkent are provide technical services including training of communities in the project areas. Ongoing FAO programs within Tajikistan are help support veterinary aspects.
The State Committee for Nature Protection (SCNP) and Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) are participate in capacity building activities related to environmental assessment and monitoring. MOA, the National Farmer’s Training Center, and the SCNP, the State Land committee, and State Statistical Service are participate in training activities and market information and analysis. A small amount of support for facility rehabilitation and equipment is included.
More specifically the research and demonstration includes the following activities:
- Development of seeds and seedlings for horticultural crops and fruit trees suitable for the project watersheds. This is support the spread of economically viable crop varieties of fruit and nut trees such as apple, peach, cherries and walnut, almonds and grapes; introducing new varieties of pulses, oilseeds and cereals, introducing potatoes and garlic for intercropping, developing grasses and legume seeds for improving the quality of pastures, and introducing quick growing seedlings of timber and fuel trees for farm forestry propagation. It involves support for nurseries and research trials on farmer’s land under the technical oversight of the horticultural, forestry, and botanical institutes named above. The project are also support the provision of expert advice and training from CAC and others for the participating institutes and farmers, as well as dissemination activities to promote more widespread adoption of improved planting stock and associated technologies.
- The soil science institute are play a lead role in collaboration with other institutes, in the development of scientific methods for soil conservation practices by supporting adoptive trails and method demonstrations on farmer’s lands. This will focus on those techniques combining increased crop production while preserving precious top soil resources, for dissemination to farmers in watersheds. It is include support for the development and propagation brushwood and sturdy grasses for planting on contours against slops for soil and water conservation.
- • Strengthening of the capacity to preserve live specimens of wild fruit crops and wild nuts and other plant species and landraces. The project are restore existing facilities at the horticultural and forestry institutes for preservation of live specimens both within their own facilities, improve their capacity to foster in situ preservation on public and private lands, and also improve the access of CAC to specimens so as to facilitate further research of global importance. CAC and others are provide expert advice and training in identification, collection and preservation methodologies, as well as help to share information on the evolving research initiatives and findings associated with the live specimen preservation.
- Strengthening the capacity of livestock breeding, including selection, registration, and performance testing, as well as strengthening animal health by supporting veterinary services and access to effective protection.
- Strengthening the provision of market information and market analysis relevant to investments being supported under the rural production component.
- Strengthening the capacity of SCNP and MOA staff, and expanding skills of other project staff and stakeholders in environmental assessment and monitoring, through the provision of training and a small amount of laboratory equipment. The PMU environmental specialist are provide overall guidance for this activity.
- Organization and implementation of a master training and advisory program for mountain areas. This is initially include training of specialists at the raion level who will foster effective information dissemination to help farmers raise awareness of communities on land degradation and it’s causes, and adopt integrated watershed development approaches. The intention is to eventually establish an advisory service at the JDC level and also at the MOA and watershed levels, especially if additional donor financing from IFAD becomes available. The focus of this activity is to select and train advisors and private extension workers to promote scientifically proven technologies over a period of time and providing the effective linkage between these scientific institute and the communities. In other words a systematic organizational capacity are built for providing training and information to disseminate advanced land management and on-farm and off-farm production technologies to enhance the income levels of farmers on a sustainable way.
Besides, for successful implementation of the project in Watersheds, PMU has signed contracts with International Organizations that have good working experience in Tajikistan
Thus
- German Agro Action has signed a contract with the PMU for providing of consulting services in the Watershed of Zarafshon ($ 1.15 million U.S. $)
- Aga Khan Fund has signed a contract with the PMU for providing of consulting services in the Watershed of Vanjob ($ 0.50 million U.S. $)
- FAO has signed a contract with the PMU for providing of consulting services in the Watershed of Toirsu ($ 0.50 million U.S. $)
- UNDP has signed a contract with the PMU for providing of consulting services in the Watershed of Surkhob ($ 1.60 million U.S. $)
