FAO will launch a $468-thousand irrigation system modernization project in Tajikistan

Almaty. May 27. Silkroadnews – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) allocates $468 thousand to modernize Tajikistan’s irrigation system, Tajik Telegraph Agency (TajikTA) reported on Friday.

“The Food and Agriculture Organization launches a new two-year project with a budget of $468 thousand in Tajikistan to increase the agricultural sector productivity in the irrigated agriculture field. The direct beneficiaries of this aid will be the peasants, farmers and members of local water users’ associations and federations on the basis of irrigation canals systems (in the pilot regions) of the Govkush Vahdat region, Kofarnihon basin and Faizabad region,” the publication says.

The project shall allow the water users of these areas to raise the economic efficiency of irrigated agriculture based on the best practices and introduction of innovative technologies of FAO.

The project assumes to purchase two excavators, special agricultural tools, computer hardware and other equipment for Tajikistan’s farmers.

According to the publication, after Tajikistan gained independence the most irrigation systems were abandoned and eventually lost the capacity. As a result, the level of water provisions to the farmers decreased dramatically and about 39 thousand hectares of arable land were withdrawn from agriculture. The current state of irrigation and drainage systems is unsatisfactory and the effectiveness of national irrigation systems is estimated as 40-50% only.