DUSHANBE, October 25, 2008, Asia-Plus — Mercy Corps hosted an agriculture exhibition highlighting the achievements realized during the U.S. Government”s Food Security Development Assistance Program, known as the DAP, in the Rasht Valley in eastern Tajikistan.
The event was held in the House of Culture – the Khoja-Abdulaziz Palace – in Gharm, administrative center of the Rasht district on October 22.
According to press release issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe, the exhibition provided an opportunity to share experiences and achievements and exchange knowledge between organizations working in the agriculture sector in Rasht valley and Tajikistan. The event facilitated networking between organizations, farmers and commercial interests for developing new areas of cooperation and support. It provided an impetus to others working in the agriculture sector in the Rasht Valley by demonstrating the successes achieved with support of the American people provided through Mercy Corps, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The overall objective of the DAP is to reduce chronic food insecurity and vulnerability of households and communities in Tajikistan. To meet this objective, Mercy Corps and USAID, in 2005, launched health activities, which focused on improving the health status of mothers and children two years and under, via education sessions on topics such as pre-natal care, safe motherhood, and breastfeeding. In the spring of 2006, practical agriculture activities, such as canning of fruits and vegetables for winter storage, and greenhouse production for early harvests, were introduced. Mercy Corps distributed plastic for greenhouse construction to 289 health and agriculture volunteers. The following year, Mercy Corps worked with local merchants to provide plastic to community members and over 2,600 households built their own greenhouses, a consequence of seeing the benefit of early harvest tomatoes and cucumbers in the demonstration sites.
Since 2005, Mercy Corps and USAID d distributed over 4000 metric tons of flour, lentils and vegetable oil to over 6000 households in Rasht.
The DAP is currently being implemented in the six Jamoats of Obi Mehnat, Boqhi Rahimzoda, Qalai Surkh, Askalon, Hoit and Yasman and targets over 5200 pregnant and lactating women and women with children aged two years and under. In addition, nearly 300 community health and agriculture volunteers or educators play a critical role in conveying educational messages to groups of beneficiaries, their husbands, mothers- and fathers-in-law and others.
The achievements of the agriculture component of the DAP were demonstrated and discussed by the primary implementers of the program –Mercy Corps staff, agriculture volunteer educators and beneficiaries alike. There were stands presented in an open forum and breakout sessions for interested participants to learn more details about each process.
Among the invitees were Deputy Head of Rasht District on Agriculture, the U.S. Embassy and USAID representatives, local Jamoat Chiefs from operational areas, representatives from local commerce and other national and international organizations.
Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1.5 billion in assistance to people in 106 nations. Supported by headquarters in North America and Europe, the agency”s global programs employ 3,500 staff worldwide and reach 16.4 million people in more than 35 countries. Over the past five years, more than 89 percent of the agency”s resources have been allocated directly to programs that help people in need.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) delivers assistance from the American people to Tajikistan since 1993. Over the past 15 years, the American people have provided over $300 million in assistance to Tajikistan’s economic growth, healthcare, education, and democratic institutions.
