DUSHANBE, November 19, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The Handover Ceremony of the Grassroots Grant Project – Rehabilitation of Irrigation Canals in Buston and Mehrobod Jamoats in Fayzobod District -- will be held in Fayzobod on November 20.

Ms. Dilafrouz Sanginova, Assistant for Economic Division, Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe, said that the Government of Japan had granted US$ 83,899 for the project.

After the completion of project, more than 15,000 people in Buston and Mehrobod jamoats can access to 170 hectares of newly irrigated land.  For the rehabilitation of irrigation canals, the canal of Gumbuloq has been reconstructed.  Constructed in 1953 by nearby jamoats, the canal became superannuated for irrigation as the capacity of canal was declined from 1,000 liter per second (l/s) to only 200-250l/s.

The rehabilitation of Irrigation Canals is expected to improve the productivity of agriculture and raise the living standard of the people in Buston and Mehrobod jamoats.

Mr. Yoshihiro Nakayama, Chargé D’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe, will attend the ceremony.

Under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, the Government of Japan has extended to the total grant of US$ 13,689,128 for 215 projects on supporting humanitarian and development activities in the Republic of Tajikistan since 1996.