DUSHANBE, December 24, Asia-Plus — A republican conference to discuss outcomes of the project aimed at supporting evaluation of the basket of foods and elaboration of appropriate bill was held in Dushanbe on December 23.
The project was implemented by the National Association of Political Scientists of Tajikistan (Napt) within the frames of the civil initiatives support program that is implemented by Pact Inc.
The survey was conducted in June-November this year in 11 cities and districts of the country, including the cities of Kulob, Qurghon Teppa, Khujand, Khorog, and Istaravshan, the districts of Hisor, Rasht, Shugnan, Ishkashim, Murgab as well as Dushanbe’s Shomansour district.
According to the Napt head Abdughani Mamadazimov, 1,064 households have been surveyed over the report period. “The purpose of the survey was to promote development and introduction of national methods of evaluating parameters of the basket of foods and elaboration of the appropriate draft law,” Mamadazimov said.
During the conference, it was noted that a household’s subsistence level should be estimated at 254.1 somoni per month for adults and 296.4 somoni for children.
Member of the working group, Dr. Hojimuhammad Umarov, noted that the estimates were based on weighted average prices on local markets.
“The survey outcomes have shown that the highest rate of a household’s monthly total revenue per one family member is in Dushanbe – 139, and the lowest rate is in Gorno Badakhshan – 59.5 somoni. In the Sughd province, this rate is 108.4 somoni, in the Khatlon province – 84.8 somoni, and in districts subordinate to the center (RRPs) – 100.9 somoni,” said Umarov. “It is to be noted that in Istaravshan, the rate of a household’s monthly total revenue per one family member was estimated at 201.4 somoni; it is connected with the fact that Istaravshan is commercial center not only for the Sughd province but also for border areas of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.”
He noted that outcomes of households’ subsistence level and budget allowed observing the low rate of consumption of basic food products in Tajikistan. “Thus, in 2007, the annual meat consumption norm was defined as equal to 60 kilograms, while in Tajikistan, an actual meat consumption amounted to only 9.9 kilograms per family member per year, the annual milk products consumption norm was defined as equal to 350 kilograms, while in Tajikistan, the actual consumption of milk products amounted to 49.1 kilograms and so forth,” Umarov said, noting that only the bread consumption norm stood in Tajikistan at 114 percent — 148.8 kilograms against the annual norm of 130 kilograms.
The outcomes of household’s subsistence level and budget survey have shown that the food consumption situation in the country is serious and the country is experiencing mass malnutrition and food shortages.
