Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a study tour for Tajik agrarian specialists to Kyrgyzstan
According to FAO Country Office in Tajikistan, the purpose of the study tour was to familiarize participants with lessons learned on the agricultural sector reform in Kyrgyzstan. Through the knowledge transfer, which is part of the European Union-funded FAO project, they could collect and exchange information on the issue.
This study tour reportedly helped representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and other interested departments of the country, altogether 12 people, acquire a profound understanding of the long-term experience accumulated in the neighboring country in reforming the ministry and the agricultural sector in general.
The head of the delegation, Jamila Saidova, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Tajikistan, commended on the significant accomplishments by Kyrgyz agrarians demonstrated during events of host country. Saidova also stressed that the challenges faced by to the sectoral reforms process are very identical.
“Kyrgyzstan was selected for this visit due to recent experience in reforming and modernizing its agriculture structure,” said FAO’s Kuvatbek Bapayev.
“Study tours are excellent mechanisms for knowledge exchange between developing countries and for transferring best practices for the benefit of others,” Bapayev added. “We hope that this experience will speed up the currently ongoing reform process in the agricultural sector of Tajikistan.
The delegation of Tajikistan was interested in the rationale behind many decisions and measures taken in the agricultural sector of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The delegation met with a number of key stakeholders during their visit, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Land Reclamation, State Inspectorate for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Security, Association of Pasture Users of Kyrgyzstan. The delegation also visited the veterinary laboratory and border control point, pastures and a cooperative in Chui oblast of Kyrgyzstan.
Meetings were arranged to engage with heads of district agricultural services as well, who play a key role in the provision of agricultural services, particularly in the area of information dissemination.
Tajik representatives were also very interested in the practice of pasture development and the availability of veterinary services.
The delegation of Tajikistan comprised of officials from the Executive Office of the President, the Government of Tajikistan, members of the Technical Working Group under the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan, specialists from the Food Safety Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, as well as Agrarian Reform Secretariat under the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan.
The FAO, funded by the European Union, will continue to provide support to the Ministry of Agriculture in capacity building, enhancing the knowledge and skills of the ministry’s and subordinate institutions for strategic planning and analysis, program development and coordination with donors and other partners.
