DUSAHNBE, September 19, Asia-Plus - OSCE-supported agribusiness consulting center will be opened in Darband, Nurobod district on Wednesday, September 20, 2006.

Aleksandr Sodiqov, Media Assistant at the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, noted that the center will provide farmers and entrepreneurs from throughout the Rasht Valley with technical and legal information, advice and training on starting farm-based businesses and introducing new agricultural technologies.

The center in Darband will be the first from a series of six permanent consulting centers that OSCE will open in agricultural districts of Tajikistan. Similar centers will soon be opened in Shahritus, Qurghon Teppa, Jomi, Qumsangir and Dushanbe, according to him.

The project will continue the OSCE support for the land reform process that was a response to a request of the State Land Committee in 2003. Thus this project may be seen as a direct contribution to the country’s program for meeting domestic food supply needs and developing its export potential in agricultural products.