DUSHANBE, October 26, 2009, Asia-Plus — Three Grass-roots Human Security Projects of USD 248,045 granted by the Government of Japan, have been successfully implemented in the Ayni district, Sughd province, press release issued by the Japanese Embassy in Dushanbe said.
On October 26, 27 and 28, 2009, Mr. Kazuya Harada, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe, and Mr. Rustam Rahmatov, acting chairman of the Ayni district, will attend the handover ceremonies for one project for road construction and two rehabilitation projects of agricultural irrigation system, which have been implemented under the Grant Assistance of Grass-roots Human Security Project of the Government of Japan.
In order to improve access to social infrastructure, Japan has granted USD 82,609 for “The Project for Rehabilitation of 20 km road Margeb-Bidev and Construction of 6 km Road Bidev-Piskon in Yagnob valley, Ayni district”. Located in steep mountainous area, population in Yagnob valley does not have means of transportation between villages, which causes very limited accessibility to foods, living necessaries and medical service. Through the project, the road between villages will be available so that approximately 1,500 people can have access to social infrastructure such as foods and medical service. It will be the first step to the development of this area, securing safe transportation of the people and goods.
“The Project for the Rehabilitation of Pump Station“Karktuda-2”and irrigation system in Shamtuj Village, Shamtuj Jamoat, Ayni District” for the total of USD 79,816, aims to improve living condition through rehabilitation of the pump station which is capable to irrigate 130 hectares in Shamtuj village with 1800 population. Due to the chaotic situation at civil war era, the pump station had been left broken so that 130 hectares are not irrigated. Since the products which can be grown at non-irrigated lands tend to be cheaper than those at irrigated, farmers can not sell their products at good price thus they endure low income in this area. By the project, 130 hectares will be irrigated, thus people can raise the products with higher market price. As a result, local people are expected to have improved income and higher living condition.
“The Project for the Rehabilitation of Pump Equipments of the No.1 and No.2 Pump Station in Urmetan Village, Urmetan Jamoat, Ayni District” for the total of USD 85,620, has assisted agricultural development in Urmetan and Langer village, where most of the population of 7,600 is involved in agriculture. There had been continuous lack of agricultural water to irrigate the lands with old pump stations stopped for 7 years. Thus 140 hectare is left non-irrigated while only 80 hectare irrigated. It causes low agricultural productivity as well as unsustainable income among the local people. Under the project assisted by Japan, the old pump station has been rehabilitated. As a result, 140 hectares will be newly irrigated, thus improved productivity is expected. Since the water will be available for kitchen garden for individuals, nutrition condition will be also improved.
The Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP) provides support to projects in the human security sectors at the grassroots level. The GGP is provided to local governments, NGOs, and educational and medical institutions in developing countries. The GGP has extended more than US$ 15.2 million for 231 projects in Tajikistan since 1996.
