DUSHANBE, March 14, 2013, Asia-Plus — Oxfam and GIZ photography exhibition draws attention to rural life and the plight of women farmers.
According to press release issued by the Oxfam Dushanbe Office, the photography exhibition features the work of Eraj Asadulloyev and Stefan Erber. The exhibition will take place on Friday March 15, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Ballroom, Dushanbe.
But there’s more to the exhibition than beautiful photographs. The photos depict the reality of rural life. Many of the photos in Eraj’s and Stefan’s collection show women farmers selling their home-grown produce and collecting brushwood for their families. As many men have migrated, women are often responsible for both child-care and earning an income – usually through farming, press release says.
“The Government of Tajikistan’s current land reform process is a great opportunity to improve the situation of farmers. The government, donors and the private sector should work together to create an enabling environment for women farmers – ensuring that they have access to land, water and finance. The private sector in particular needs to make space for women farmers in value chains.
“Women make up the vast majority of smallholder farmers in Tajikistan. Therefore, investing in the female labor force will benefit Tajikistan’s productivity and economy. There will also be improvements in terms of social development, as women will be in a better position to contribute to their family’s food and health care.
“Putting domestic resources to productive use is a key to economic and social development. The most underutilized resource is – money. The savings rate in the Tajikistan is among the lowest in the world. Increasing savings will help women headed households to feed their children during dire times and reduce the cost of credit in the country. More trust in financial institutions, and an informed and financially literate population and responsible finance are cornerstones to make local money work.
“Everyone has to make decisions regarding how to make ends meet, whether to make a profit, or balance their budgets. Reliability of legal environment, clear regulations, barring of undue interference are preconditions for businesses to thrive.”
“Eraj may be known for his fashion photography but he also believes that people should not forget about day-to-day life in rural areas. Eraj says, “I have been given the opportunity to depict rural life to the urban population in Tajikistan through my photographs.”
“Stefan loves using photography as a tool for communication and support for delivering messages and stories – and as food for thought for the viewer. “Every picture has a story. The real one – and the one the person who looks at the picture comes up with using his or her own imagination.”
The Hyatt exhibition is by invitation only. The photographs will be on public display at the La Grand Dame Restaurant in Dushanbe later on in the year.
