DUSHANBE, April 28, Asia-Plus — On April 22, the British Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Graeme Loten, along with a small team from the British Embassy paid a visit to Abdurahmoni Jomi district of Khatlon province, press release issued by the British Embassy in Dushanbe said.
At a meeting with the district head, Mr. Umedjon Zoirov, the two sides talked about the progress in Jomi district since the Ambassador’s last visit. This was in July 2006 when His Royal Highness the Duke of York visited the district to see the work of international NGOs in Jomi. The two sides also talked about the latest economic and development challenges in the region including the need to improve farming methods, gain better access to clean water, develop better sanitation and enhance disaster preparedness, all of which are critical elements of Tajikistan’s common goal of poverty reduction.
In the course of the visit the Ambassador visited a privately owned fish farm which was already providing fish for the Dushanbe markets and seeking to expand.
He also took the opportunity to learn about the possibilities of introducing diversified farming systems from a dehqon (peasant) farm which was moving away from the traditional dependence on cotton production and into areas like the growing of vegetables, wheat, fruit and even decorative trees. “The Freedom to Farm which is enshrined in the Government of Tajikistan’s Decree no 111 is so important as it allows private dehqon farms to produce exactly what they wish according to the particularities of their own land, experience and the local markets” commented Mr. Loten. “It is becoming ever clearer that Tajikistan needs to produce as much of its own food itself, and especially wheat for flour, and the advances being made here in Jomi should really help to achieve better food security for this country.”
During the day-long program the Ambassador also visited a centre run by the local NGO “Bonuvoni Khatlon” which offers computer and sewing lessons to local people and a project implemented by Save the Children Fund which concentrates on giving health and hygiene advice to schoolchildren.
