Day: February 14, 2023

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Inclusive junior field schools leave no one behind

In the Republic of Tajikistan, one in four families has at least one family member working abroad. Representing about 10 percent of the total population, labour migrants from Tajikistan are predominantly men and mainly from rural areas. Families of labour migrants struggle to manage the farming work previously done by those who are away, they often face inequities and are considered a vulnerable and marginalized group with poor economic resilience.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in its work to improve gender equality, increases the capacity of women and youth left behind to fill the gap in family farm work through farmer field schools.

The FAO project "Empowerment of 'families left behind for improved migration outcomes in Khatlon, Tajikistan" is funded by the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund and implemented jointly with International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Women (UN Women). Within the framework of this project, 50 junior farmer field schools were established to educate up to 1 000 children in Dusti and Kulyab, Khatlon regions of Tajikistan. The first activities cover drip irrigation of crops, the cultivation of vegetables in greenhouses, organic farming methods, and technology to grow mushrooms in artificially controlled conditions.

Experts of FAO conducted a series of theoretical and practical “Training of Trainers” sessions for over 450 teachers, as well as instructors, students and junior farmers from 50 secondary schools in the two districts on the topics related to establishment of farmer field schools. The project will next monitor the junior farmer field schools and support them to ensure the benefits to family farmers are enduring and raise the livelihoods and well-being of farmers’ families.

The farmer field school (FFS) approach was developed by FAO and partners nearly 25 years ago as an alternative to the prevailing top-down extension method. It represents practical field exercises using direct observation, discussion, and decision-making to encourage active learning-by-doing. The FFS method is also an effective capacity building and extension approach for farmers.

Junior farmer field schools aim to increase awareness about healthy nutrition and sustainable use of natural resources among youth. The main goal of the schools is to create interest in agriculture, to coach youth in how to apply various advanced technologies to booster crops’ productivity and to promote sustainable agriculture.

Source: United Nations

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Tajik rescuers pull 31 bodies from the rubble in 18 hours in Turkiye, says Tajik Emergencies Committee

The Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan says that on February 13, Tajik rescuers pulled 31 bodies from the rubble in 18 hours.

The Emergencies Committee press center also noted that Tajik rescuers have pulled 109 bodies from the rubble.

Recall, four people, including three children, have been saved by Tajik rescuers in Kahramanmaras province.

On February 11, Tajik rescuers reportedly pulled a man his six-month-old son alive from under the rubble of a collapsed of a building. According to statement released by the Emergencies Committee, they were trapped under the rubble of the building for six days

Turkiye’s Anadolu Agency (AA) reported on February 12 that Tajik rescue workers have found and pulled a 3-year-old baby alive from under the rubble of a collapsed building. He reportedly spent 158 hours there.

AA also reported on February 12 that Tajik rescuers have saved a four-year-old boy, pulling him from the rubble of a nine-story building. He was reportedly rescued 151 hours after the earthquake.

The operation was carried out with use of special devices for detecting people under rubble, according to AA.

Recall, Tajikistan sent a group of 50 rescuers and doctors, as well as 2.5 tons of special equipment, to Turkey on February 9 to help deal with the aftermath of the February 6 earthquake.

This is the first time that rescuers from Tajikistan have traveled abroad to provide assistance and participate in disaster relief efforts.

A devastating earthquake of 7.8 on the Richter scale hit Southern Turkiye in the early hours of February 6 (4:17 am local time), with epicenter in the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras province.

According to data from the Emergencies Committee, in fact, there are no whole buildings left in the historical quarters of the town of town of Kahramanmaras.

Source: Asia-Plus

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Iran reportedly smuggles at least 18 long-ranged drones into Russia

At least 18 of the drones were reportedly delivered to Russia’s navy after Russian officers and technicians made a special visit to Tehran in November, where they were shown a full range of Iran’s technologies.

According to the report, most of the drones in question were “secretly picked” by an Iranian vessel from a base in the Caspian Sea and then transferred by sea to a Russian navy boat. The sources also claimed that others were sent to Moscow on a state-owned Iranian airline.

According to The Guardian, the were reportedly delivered to Russia’s navy after Russian officers and technicians made a special visit to Tehran in November, where they were shown a full range of Iran’s technologies.

On that occasion, the 10-man Russian delegation reportedly selected six Mohajer-6 drones, which have a range of around 200km and carry two missiles under each wing, along with 12 Shaheed 191 and 129 drones, which also have an air-to-ground strike capability.

This comes after officials in the United States said that Iran had begun showcasing its Shahed 191 and 129 drones in June to Russia and expected the sale to happen in the upcoming months. Additionally, Tehran has also sent three officials per drone which is approximately 54 people in total to help “integrate the smuggled craft into the Russian military”, The Guardian claimed, citing sources in Iran.

Source: Asia-Plus

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One Tajik national injured and four others have their houses damaged by devastating quake in Turkiye

As a result of the quake, a Tajik women living in Gaziantep reportedly sustained a head injury and was evacuated to Ankara.

“She is now feeling well and is staying with relatives of her husband, who is national of Turkiye,” said a representative of the Tajik Embassy in Ankara. “Our employees visited her and gave her assistance on behalf of the Embassy."

Besides, houses of four Tajik nationals living in the city of Malatya have reportedly been damaged by the powerful earthquake.

“Together with nationals of Turkiye they have been moved to a tent camp,” the Tajik Embassy representative said.

He further noted that some Tajik nationals living in Malatya had expressed a desire to return to Tajikistan.

“However, due to the lack of passports, this is not yet possible. Therefore, they are currently engaged in drawing up documents. After that, we will facilitate their return to Tajikistan,” the Tajik Embassy representative added.

Citing competent agencies of Turkiye, the Tajik Embassy in Ankara has stated that there are no citizens of Tajikistan among the dead.

According to data from the Tajik Embassy, about 10,000-15,000 Tajik nationals live and work in Turkiye.

Source: Asia-Plus

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World Bank supports improvement of access to water in rural areas of Tajikistan

Poor water and sanitation services in rural areas of Tajikistan disproportionately affect women and children, exposing them to elevated health risks. In the area serviced by the new water supply system, previously only 1000 households had access to piped water, and even those were receiving services for several hours a day.

“With these investments safe water will be made available to more than 5000 households, reducing the burden on women and children, who are often responsible for water fetching in households,” said Sameh Wahba during the launch ceremony. “Investments in improved water supply and sanitation services are of highest priority both for the World Bank and the Government of Tajikistan, as the quality of these services are critical for the health and future wellbeing of the population.”

The rehabilitation of the “Chilla” water system was possible with support from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project, financed with a $58 million grant from the International Development Association. It is investing in improved water and sanitation services in districts of the southern Khatlon region with the highest levels of poverty and inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions. With project support, around 400,000 people are expected to gain access to safe drinking water and around 100,000 people, mainly children, will benefit from investments in WASH facilities and hygiene training in schools.

Apart from infrastructure investments, the project is supporting ongoing water sector reforms by strengthening water utilities in target districts to improve the quality of the service delivery.

The World Bank’s current investments in water and irrigation sectors in Tajikistan stand at $163 million.

Mr. Wahba also met with residents of Mehrobod village of Vose district, located near the confluence of Yakhsu and Kizilsu rivers. The village is among other areas, identified as at risk of flooding in Khatlon region, which have benefitted from World Bank-financed riverbank reinforcement works under the Strengthening Critical Infrastructure against Natural Hazards Project. The project is helping rebuild key infrastructure in two regions, Khatlon and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), which suffered major floods and mudflows in July 2015. In both regions, the World Bank investments in infrastructure are envisioned to benefit over 640,000 people.

The World Bank and Government teams also visited two project sites under Rural Economy Development Project (REDP), which is supporting increased income opportunities for local population by investing in two sectors - tourism and agribusiness. First, they met with a resident of Tugarak Jamoat of Vose, who applied for a small grant under the project to build and equip a cold storage facility, which will allow him to decrease postharvest losses and increase his income.

They also visited the ancient Hulbuk Fortress, which is being improved with support from REDP. The project is complementing past rehabilitation done by the Government of Tajikistan by financing landscape beautification around the fortress, which includes landscape architecture, such as pathways, green areas, and lighting to and within the site. The beautification and commercialization of this tourism site will create economic for local tourism providers, such as homestays, tour operators, guides, and create jobs for local population. Because Hulbuk is a UNESCO-nominated site, all works are being conducted under UNESCO guidelines.

Currently, the World Bank is financing 24 projects in Tajikistan totaling $1.54 billion. Since 1996, the World Bank has provided over $2.72 billion in IDA grants, highly concessional credits, and trust funds for Tajikistan. The World Bank is committed to continuing its support as the country strives to improve lives and meet the aspirations of its young and growing population.

Source: Asia-Plus

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New labor ministry fails to give the number of Tajik nations working in abroad as labor migrants

After opening remarks and a short report on the activities of the ministry in 2022, Hasanzoda asked journalists to list all the questions addressed to the ministry, but she answered not all the questions.

Thus, the new labor minister failed to answer the question about of number of Tajik nationals working abroad as labor migrants.

She just said that the exact figures will be given later. “Now these figures are being clarified together with Russian colleagues,” Hasanzoda added.

Meanwhile, statistics of labor migrants leaving the country, primarily for Russia, statistics have become a subject of controversy in the press. The thing is that the figures given by Tajikistan and Russia vary greatly.

Thus, between January and September 2021, Russia’s Interior Ministry registered 2,025,712 Tajik citizens entering the country – 1.6 million of them, or about one-quarter of Tajikistan’s working-age population, with work as their official purpose.

Meanwhile, in an address to a joint meeting of both chambers of parliament, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon noted on December 26, 2019 that compared to 2010 the number of Tajik nationals seeking better employment opportunities abroad has decreased by 60 percent.

“In 2010, 1.1 million Tajik nationals went abroad seeking better employment opportunities. This year, this figure has been only 486,000 people,” Rahmon noted.

Labor migrants are still a critical component in the economy of Tajikistan and remittances keep many struggling families in the country above the poverty.

Source: Asia-Plus

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IsDB to provide US$150 million to Tajikistan for completion of construction of Roghun hydropower plant

According to him, during his meeting with IsDB vice-president that took place on February 7, an agreement was reached on providing 250 million U.S. dollars to Tajikistan.

Of this amount, 150 million U.S. dollars will be channeled to completion of the construction of the Roghun hydropower plant.

As part of his visit to Tajikistan, Mr. Muhtar reportedly also got acquainted with the progress of construction of the Roghun hydropower plant.

Tajik minister added that they are currently carrying out the preliminary work on elaborating an appropriate draft agreement.

It is to be noted that during the period of Tajikistan’s independence, the Islamic Development Bank has financed a number of significant projects in the country; a total amount of them is more than 620 million U.S. dollars.

Tajikistan joined the Islamic Development Bank on November 27, 1996 and has a capital subscription of ID 18.2 million (0.04% of total IsDB subscribed capital).

The IsDB supports implementation of investment projects in education, healthcare, energy, transportation, agrarian and other priority socioeconomic sectors of Tajikistan. To-date, the IsDB has reportedly accepted 86 investment projects in a total amount of 641 million USD, and US$286 million worth of 23 projects have been implemented in various sectors of Tajikistan’s economy so far.

The Islamic Development Bank is a multilateral development finance institution that is focused on Islamic finance for infrastructure development and located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. There are 57 shareholding member states with the largest single shareholder being Saudi Arabia.

Source: Asia-Plus