Feed the Future Agriculture and Land Governance Activity

Objective

As part of the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative, the USAID-funded Feed the Future Tajikistan Agriculture and Land Governance Activity takes a market-systems approach to accelerate agriculture-led growth, deepen resilience among vulnerable populations, enhance the enabling environment for agriculture and land reform, and improve nutrition in rural communities of Khatlon Province.

Approach

The Activity implements an inclusive market-systems approach to strengthen Tajikistan’s agricultural systems by engaging with private sector actors to develop and expand market opportunities and works closely with the Government of Tajikistan and civil society to advance systemic reforms in the enabling environment for land and agriculture, expand commercial production, and generate sustainable employment opportunities to ensure that women, youth, and vulnerable groups in remote areas in Khatlon are not left behind.

To promote sustainable and long-term agriculture-led growth, the Activity works to:

Enhance productive agriculture systems by 1) strengthening market linkages from farmgate to domestic and foreign markets, 2) increasing the private sector supply and demand of business development services, and 3) piloting private sector-led extension advisory services to build the capacity of farmers in the Zones of Influence in the selected value chains of stone fruits, early vegetables, melons, and grapes.

Facilitate improved dietary and nutrition behaviors by increasing the availability of diverse nutritious foods through increased production in garden plots and improved dietary adequacy through community-level nutrition education and information campaigns.

Strengthen the resilience of vulnerable smallholders by promoting on- and off-farm economic opportunities enabling women, youth, and other vulnerable groups to diversify and intensify market-linked production, diversify risk, and increase opportunities to earn supplemental income, conserve natural resources, build capacity, protect assets, and increase household savings.

Improve the enabling environment by supporting the Government of Tajikistan to improve land tenure security and promote inclusive agricultural policy reforms. Building demand for and supply of governance services and engaging public and private sector actors in the design, review, and implementation of policies.

The Feed the Future Tajikistan Agriculture and Land Governance Activity works in 12 target districts of the Khatlon Province (J. Balkhi, Dusti, Jayhun, A. Jomi, Khuroson, Kushoniyon, N. Khisrav, Qubodiyon, Levakant, Shahritus, Vakhsh, and Yovon).

Results Achieved to Date

• 215,022 individuals have participated in food security programs.
• 34,610 individuals have applied improved agriculture management practices or technologies.
• 21,100 of hectares of land under improved management practices or technologies.
• 835 individuals have completed workforce development programs.
• 14 pieces of land tenure/property rights legislation have been proposed and/or adopted.
• 31,733 adults received documented land tenure rights with USG assistance.
• 27,094 individuals have participated in USG-assisted micro-finance or lending programs.
• $688,809 of new private sector capital investment has been leveraged.
• $1,104,140 in annual sales of producers and firms receiving USG assistance.