DUSHANBE, March 26, 2013, Asia-Plus — A ten-day workshop on the main aspects and concepts of Tajikistan’s food security began in Romit on March 25.
According to press release issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Office in Tajikistan, the event has been organized by the FAO CO in Tajikistan in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of Tajikistan in the framework of the project, Support for Strengthening of the National Food Security Information System in Tajikistan.
The workshop participants include representatives from President’s Executive Office, MoA and relevant agencies of the country.
The workshop reportedly aims to acquaint the participants with concepts of food security information systems, methodology of assessing and analyzing the food security situation as well as development of assessment and analysis plans.
The objectives of the “Support for Strengthening of the National Food Security Information System in Tajikistan” Project are to establish and strengthen information systems for food security in order to improve the quality of food security and relief interventions; to assist the government of Tajikistan and its international development partners to effectively respond to the short, medium and long-term food security needs of the population; and to improve market information systems and services to promote the development of private-sector agriculture and trade.
To achieve these goals, the project has the following components: 1) defining a suitable methodology for evaluating crop extent; 2) improving agro-meteorological data management and crop yield forecasts; 3) improving access to standardized food security and early warning data and definitions through adequate information systems; 4) improving capacity to analyze food security information and formulating effective response policies and strategies to prevent food crises and reduce chronic food insecurity; 5) improving communication and collaboration among national and international stakeholders; 6) improving access to timely market prices for key commodities through a better collection and dissemination system; and 7) increasing understanding of emerging food security, agriculture and related issues such as market trends in new initiatives, including the productive and social safety net programs.
