Tajik farmers receive 60 tons of high-quality elite seed potatoes from the FAO and the European Union

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) completed the distribution of 60 tons of high-quality seed potatoes among two farming cooperatives under a project funded by the European Union in Tajikistan. These activities will help strengthen the capacity of small producers and improve their livelihoods in northern Shahristan and the Nurabad region, AgroXXI reports citing the FAO regional office for Europe and Central Asia, EastFruit Internet portal reports.

The seed potato supply chain in Tajikistan is experiencing many difficulties. These include poor quality problems and difficulties with imports due to COVID-19, coupled with increased demand for seeds ahead of the planting season. The availability of quality seed potatoes is limited and it is sold at a high price; in addition, poor access to pesticides, fertilizers and other resources prevents farmers from making higher profits.

“As part of the EU project, we are constantly looking for new initiatives in the agricultural sector, such as establishing links with research and financial institutions, in order to assist farmers in solving their problems and finding new opportunities,” said Oleg Guchgeldyev, FAO representative in Tajikistan. “This, along with the subsequent integration of seed production in the private sector, will benefit cooperative members in the long run.”

The cooperative unions that received Red Scarlet seed potatoes from the Netherlands bring together more than 120 farmers in total. They help set up seed potato banks, and local farmers will have the opportunity to learn about innovative seed potato production methods and become familiar with the GLOBAL G.A.P. - a voluntary food safety standard.

As the head of the European Union delegation, Ambassador Yosefson, noted, this initiative is part of the EU response to address the socio-economic impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on Tajikistan. Providing highly productive seed potatoes to small farmers will not only help increase the productivity of the potato value chain, the produced potatoes will also be available for local consumption, which will increase the food security of the rural population.

“We support the private production of seed through the development of cooperatives. Cooperatives should become the main element in the seed-potato value chain, allowing farmers to democratically own and exercise control over the activities of commercial enterprises buying and selling their products and services, ”said Guchgeldyev.

An EU-funded project supports Tajikistan's agricultural reform program, which aims to promote farmers' economic and social growth and provide assistance; It also contributes to the development and creation of effective and efficient cooperative unions. This, in turn, can lead to the creation of national structures representing the interests of its shareholders at all levels of agricultural management.

As part of ongoing agricultural reform, the provision of technical support and access to agricultural raw materials and services, as well as access to high-quality seeds for farmers, helps to develop production, sales and exports, which contributes to rural income growth. In order to fill an acute shortage of agricultural supplies, including access to high-quality seeds and services, FAO expects to deliver to farmers a total of 80 tons of high-quality elite seed potatoes with an expected yield of 1000 tons in the upcoming agricultural season.

GLOBALG.A.P. is a voluntary food safety standard that many supermarket chains in Europe require. These standards are relevant for farmers, as they cover the entire agricultural production process, from resources to agricultural producers.