- Rationale
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Tajikistan is in the process of implementing a reform program aimed at creating a market economy with the agriculture sector as the key to increase prosperity in the rural areas, which account for 73 percent of households. Improved agricultural productivity on farms and household plots can only be achieved with reliable and effective water supplies. Since independence, the strained finances of Government have made it impossible for adequate funds to be allocated to irrigation systems O&M from the central budget as was the case under the former regime. Similarly, rural potable water supply networks were formerly maintained by the State farms, which are being privatized. As a consequence, many irrigation systems have deteriorated to less than half their former efficiency levels with a corresponding impact on agricultural productivity and many potable water networks are defunct. Continued neglect of these systems is likely to lead to their collapse within a few years. This implies further reduction in agricultural productivity, an increased incidence of poverty and a general deterioration in living standards. Therefore, the proposed project will restore the selected irrigation systems and potable water works which will result in a more reliable water supply to both irrigation systems and household plots in the project area. This will help reverse the decline in agricultural productivity. Households will have easier access to cleaner potable water thereby reducing the time spent collecting water and the incidence of water borne diseases. Families in the project area in general will benefit from a significantly enhanced standard of living. This rehabilitation will be complemented by appropriate institutional developments, which will provide a basis for sustained O&M. The selection of the project area was undertaken as part of an intensive consultation process including a stakeholder workshop. The selection criteria used included (i) agricultural potential and ability to support its rural population, (ii) the ability of the potential cropping systems to meet the costs of O&M of their associated irrigation infrastructure, (iii) economic and financial viability, (iv) absence of a safe potable water source, and (v) the willingness of communities to participate in the Project.
- Objectives and Scope
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The Program will support the Government's efforts to transform the agriculture sector into a robust and competitive sector under a market economy. Its main objective is to reduce poverty levels and improve the living standards in selected rural areas. It comprises a set of proposed policy refinements, which are intended to promote and facilitate the implementation of reforms by building upon current policies where it has been agreed that further refinement is desirable within an essentially two-year timeframe. The proposed measures have been grouped into four categories: (i) land reform and farm reorganization, (ii) agricultural marketing, (iii) water pricing policy and resource management, and (iv) institutional capacity building. The policy reform will be nationwide in scope but institutional development and investment activities will be limited to three project areas, one in Sughd Region and two in Khatlon Region.
- Policy Dialogue
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- Environment Category:
To be determined.
- Environment Impact and Mitigation
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- Social Aspects and Remedies
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- Benefits and Beneficiaries
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The Project is expected to increase average cotton yield from the current (year 2000) 1.2 ton (t)/ha to 1.9 t/ha, and average wheat yield, from 1.4 t/ha to 2.2 t/ha in 8 years. With increased crop yields, average farm income is expected to double, and incidence of poverty to reduce from 86 percent to about 60 percent. The increased crop production will, in turn, increase the demand for farm labor, especially during the cotton harvest season. Farmers' living conditions and public health will be improved. In the long run, the rehabilitated irrigation and drainage systems will sustain crop production and prevent environmental degradation. The strengthened rural institutions will support private farming and proper water management on a long-term basis.
- Public Consultation
- Arranged by Borrower, Bank and TA Consultants
- Date for Consultation :
- Groups Consulted : Farmers, irrigators' associations and NGOs.
- Beneficiary Participation in Formulation
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Extensive consultation with Project area communities will be required during Project preparation in order to ensure that the Project's approach is technically, socially, and institutionally sound.
- Beneficiary Participation in Implementation
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By building upon NGO experiences, the Project will take a participatory approach in its design and implementation.
- Consulting Services
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No consulting services are required.
- Procurement
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The program loan proceeds will be disbursed against a broad range of imports with the exclusion of items contained in a short negative list and including imports financed by other bilateral and multilateral sources. The borrower will be required to submit with each withdrawal application a certificate that the volume of eigible imports exceeds the amount of projected disbursements under the program loan in a given period. ADB will retain the right to audit the use of the loan proceeds and to verify the accuracy of the Borrower's certification.
- Contacts
- Bank
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M. Ashraf Malik
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Head, Project Administration Unit
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ECAE
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Tel. No.:
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(632) 632-6920
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E-mail:
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amalik@adb.org
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- Executing Agency
- Office of the President
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Contact Person
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:
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Koimdodov Kozidvlat, Dep. Prime Minister In-charge
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Tel. No.
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:
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(3772) 21-22-54
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Fax. No.
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E-mail
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:
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- Remarks
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For further revision.
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Projects 
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