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Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched a new pilot project to support the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan in potato seed replenishment.

The project aims to give smallholder farmers access to critical agricultural inputs, namely good quality potato seeds and fertilizers and advanced agro-consulting services, to enhance livelihoods by advancing yields and promoting market-oriented agriculture in Tajikistan.

It should be noted that, the pilot project to enhance agribusiness in Tajikistan is in the frame of JICA's initiatives on introducing the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) approach, which aims to build the capacity of farmers to increase income and improve the access to markets for their produce.

Muneo Takasaka, Chief Representative of JICA Tajikistan office stated that "Agribusiness development plays a key role in improvement of Food Security status in Tajikistan. In this regard, access to quality seeds, advanced and innovative agro-consulting services are very important. JICA decided to introduce SHEP approach in Tajikistan as the first experience in Central Asia. SHEP is a model, which promotes market-oriented agriculture among small scale farmers . We believe that our fruitful collaboration with FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan in this project will support the Government of Tajikistan to put a strong step forward in achieving its strategic goals "Ensuring Food Security"

"The project will cover few districts in the Rasht Valley and Sughd region to further enhance the potato seed production system in the country. The project will also help to improve livelihood and strengthen food security among vulnerable households of Khuroson districts," said Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Tajikistan. "