DUSHANBE, August 8, 2008, Asia-Plus — On August 5, US Ambassador to Tajikistan Tracey Ann Jacobson visited Sughd province to distribute certificates of service and special gifts to representatives of the Legal Aid Centers and Tashabbuskors (farmers’ advocates) working for the USAID Land Reform and Market Development Project, press release issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe said.
The award ceremony took place following the final conferences held in Khujand for Legal Aid Centers and Tashabbuskors to review the results of their work, build on lessons learned, and formulate recommendations for the future. The project’s 10 Legal Aid Centers and 62 Tashabbuskors created awareness among farmers and rural citizens of their land use rights and responsibilities through trainings and roundtables to educate farmers, assist them in the reorganization and creation of their own dehqon (peasant) farms, and provide legal advice on a wide range of land-related problems. After three years of success in Tajikistan, the project will be coming to an end in September. In addition to its advocacy work, the USAID Land Reform and Market Development Project has worked closely with the Government of Tajikistan to help modernize major land-related legislation, such as the Land Code and Law on Mortgage. The project also disseminated information on land-related issues through a weekly radio and TV program “Your Rights to Land” and a monthly newspaper Kimiyoi Khirad, or “Source of Wisdom.”
In the Isfara district of Sughd, Ambassador Jacobson visited apricot processing and snack producing enterprises that evolved through technical assistance from USAID. These private enterprises have entered into several partnerships with a number of development agencies and private businesses in order to expand their production capacity. Ambassador Jacobson also met with local journalists and alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs at the Khujand American Corner.
The USAID Land Reform and Market Development Project is one of the many assistance projects implemented in Tajikistan by USAID on behalf of the American people. Since 1993 about $300 million in assistance programs has been provided to support economic growth, democratic institutions, health care, and the education systems of Tajikistan.
