DUSHANBE, October 6, 2006, Asia-Plus — IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, conducted an open field day in its demonstration plot in the Hissor district in late September, press released issues by IFC Dushanbe office on October 6 said.
The activity was conducted by the Southern Tajikistan Agribusiness Supply Chains Development Project to show the participants new high yield corn hybrids, which were imported from Kazakhstan and adapted to local conditions. Approximately 30 participants from various farms, as well as representatives from agricultural departments of the local administrations of Vahdat, Hissor, Roudaki, and Tursunzoda districts took part in the event.
IFC agronomists presented 20 types of new corn hybrids. According to IFC”s Muhiddinjon Nourmatov, “All hybrids were sown after wheat for the purposes of effective use of land, specifically for farms that do not have enough land to produce fodder during the first cropping season. Because corn is a relatively inexpensive and high energy fodder, the use of hybrids will lead to increased milk production and improved fodder stocking practices. However it should be pointed out that hybrids have high demand for fertilizers, otherwise it is impossible to expect high yield. In addition they require more irrigation during the vegetation period.”
“I came especially from Roudaki District in order to see new hybrids. Now I see that it seems to be possible to get high yields of corn with the use of hybrids. Taking into account scarce resources, I think using new hybrids will help us to get higher yields and increase productivity on our farms,” said Teshaboy Mullokhonov, a seminar participant.
This project is supported with funds from Sida.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $16.2 billion in fiscal 2008, a 34 percent increase over the previous year.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is a government agency that reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden. Sida is responsible for most contributions of Sweden to international development work with the goal to improve the standard of living of poor people and eradicate poverty.
