DUSHANBE, July 31, 2008, Asia-Plus — On Wednesday July 30, IFC (International Finance Corporation), a member of the World Bank Group, conducted a seminar on growing new hybrids of tomatoes for processing at “Mukarramov” dehqon (peasant) farm at the town of Isfara, Sughd province.
According to Muhiddin Tojiyev, public education specialist, IFC’s Southern Tajikistan Agribusiness Supply Chain Development Project, the purpose of the seminar was to help farmers in northern Tajikistan improve their knowledge on how to grow new varieties of tomatoes for processing. About 30 farmers from various dehqon farms of Isfara and Konibodom districts, as well as representatives from the Canadian Organization of “Mennonite Economic Development Associates”, which has been implementing several agricultural projects in the Sughd province, participated in the seminar.
IFC’s agronomists made presentations about the different varieties of tomatoes and the technology of growing new hybrids for processing, fertilizer management, and tomato crop protection.
Since the Tajik agricultural sector has been facing difficulties in terms of accessing modern technology, IFC also pays particular attention to assisting farmers in purchasing new equipment and technology at affordable prices. With this purpose the seminar organizers also invited a representative from the Iranian company “Khuroson,” one of the leading agricultural machinery suppliers in Tajikistan, to deliver a presentation about the company’s products and ways to lease them.
At the end of the seminar the participants visited the project’s demonstration plot at “Mukarramov” dehqon farm, where they had an opportunity to see how the theoretical knowledge they gained at the seminar had been applied in practice.
According to IFC’s Muhammadjon Eshbadalov, Tajikistan’s agricultural sector has been diversified and much attention has been paid to the improvement of growing new hybrids of tomatoes for processing. “There are favorable conditions for this in the country, particularly in its northern part due to its climate and available water resources, and we hope that this seminar will help farmers in improving their knowledge and developing this sector here in Isfara,” he said.
“It was really useful to learn about the tomato insects and the ways of fighting with them since at present due to climate change there are various insects, which are not allowing getting high yield. Now, after the seminar I know how to fight against insects” – Zuhra Hakimova, head of “Dusti” dehqon farm in Konibodom said.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. IFC’s vision is that people should have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives. In FY07, IFC committed $8.2 billion and mobilized an additional $3.9 billion through syndications and structured finance for 299 investments in 69 developing countries. IFC also provided advisory services in 97 countries.
