KULOB, December 31, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- An official ceremony of completion of the Oxfam project on improving livelihoods and food security in 20 vulnerable villages in four Khatlon’s districts was held in the city of Kulob on December 30.

A two-year project aimed at helping vulnerable households to cultivate household plots, providing them with seeds, and technical inputs was implemented in the districts of Kulob, Vose, Temourmalik and Qumsangir with financial support from the European Commission.  A total cost of the project amounted to 1,104,440 euros.

Fayzullo Qudratov, an employee of the Oxfam office in Kulob, told Asia-Plus that crop rotation schemes, green houses and other agricultural techniques helped to restore and conserve soil fertility and increase crop yields.  The project helped vulnerable people improve their livelihoods and increase food security through increased quantity and diversity of food.  1,200 farmers were trained under the program and agri-shops realizing fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural instruments were opened.

The project enhanced community-based marketing strategies, providing seeds and agriculture tools, and providing people with information and legal advice on access and use of land.  Oxfam has encouraged farmers and rural people to work together, setting up community based organizations, including men and women.

The ceremony ended with handover of three Russian-made vehicles GAZ-33/07 costing US$18,000 each and keys of two offices (Sarichashma and Chorbogh in the Kulob district) to the community development committees.

Founded in 1942, Oxfam GB is a development, humanitarian, and campaigning agency dedicated to finding lasting solutions to poverty and suffering around the world.  Oxfam believes that every human being is entitled to a life of dignity and opportunity. Oxfam GB works with others worldwide to make this a reality.  Oxfam has been in Tajikistan since 2001 and its work focuses on the Khatlon province, which has one third of the country''s population.  Oxfam helps vulnerable people to improve their livelihood through agriculture based interventions and gender equity, empower them through community based organizations, improves living conditions through providing access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation facilities and public health awareness generation.  Oxfam GB helps and supports local organizations (NGOs) in their organizational development and enhances their role in development process in terms of helping poor and vulnerable people to improve their livelihoods and to make them aware about their rights.