Dushanbe, Tajikistan, October 5, 2012 – Last week, during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, global leaders reported on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals, including efforts to end chronic hunger and malnutrition, U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe reported on October 5.
Ending world hunger requires comprehensive, coordinated action from governments, donors, international organizations, academics, civil society, business leaders and innovators. Malnutrition threatens health and development of citizens and stability of societies. It can undermine good governance, leading to conflict and violence.
Across the world, the U.S. Government is leading a global hunger and food security initiative that pursues two ambitious goals: improving nutrition to prevent stunting and the death of millions of children, and raising the incomes of millions of people who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods by investing in food from farms to markets to tables.
In Tajikistan, the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future (FTF) project empowers rural families in Khatlon to farm crops that will provide better incomes and healthier diets. With a focus on smallholder farmers, particularly women farmers, FTF promotes the development of high-value agriculture crops, such as tomatoes and onions, to increase incomes and reduce hunger and under-nutrition. FTF works with farmers to access new markets in which to sell their products. FTF is also works closely with local government and civil society partners to ensure that women farmers have equal training opportunities and are able to exercise their land-use rights. Over the next five years an estimated 201,000 Tajik families – mostly smallholder farmers – will receive targeted assistance to increase agricultural productivity and improve nutrition. FTF’s commitment to inclusive agricultural growth and health improvements will raise the incomes of the poor, increase the availability of food, and reduce under-nutrition.
Tajikistan, with the assistance of donors, has made great progress on food security and nutrition in the last three years. Last year, the U.S. Government’s investments in Tajikistan’s agricultural productivity helped increase farm revenue by over $2 million. By adopting industry best practices, Tajik companies contributed to $1.53 million in increased agribusiness sales. U.S. Government programs have trained 30,000 rural residents on land-use rights, and legal aid programs successfully resolved 94 percent of land use disputes. The U.S. Government also supported 56 community-level water users’ associations to improve control, management, and investment in farm irrigation.
Through the U.S. Government’s work with the people of Tajikistan, a foundation for lasting progress against global hunger has been established. The U.S. Government is committed to work with the Government of Tajikistan to achieve this goal, improving the lives of not only farmers, but all citizens of Tajikistan.
