DUSHANBE. 24 May. Asia-Plus -- An opening ceremony of two projects worth over $170.000 in Pyanj region is scheduled for tomorrow, May 25, in which Chargé D''affaires of the Japanese Embassy in Tajikistan Yoshihiro Nakayama and Head of Pyanj region Mirzodavlat Saburov will take part. The two projects funded by the Embassy of Japan will cover #7 secondary school in Saifiddinov Kabut jamoat and Association of Water Users “Sarmantoy” in Ozodagon jamoat.

According to the Embassy of Japan, there are 600 pupils in the #7 school located in Saifiddinov Kabut jamoat with rapidly growing number of population. Despite active support from the Parents Committee, the existing school building with the total area of 560 square meters was able to accommodate only 200 pupils and therefore was overcrowded. This severely affects the quality of education and motivation of the pupils. “Construction of additional building has increased the total area up to 784 sqm,” the source has said. “Thus, the problem of overcrowdedness has been removed.”

The Embassy believes that the project, which is aimed to improve the school’s infrastructure, will positively affect the quality of education in a long-term period and will let increase the number of pupils and will motivate schoolchildren to continue their education in institutes of higher education.

The second project on provision of agricultural machinery to Ozodagon jamoat of Pyanj region has been successfully implemented. Both the provision of agricultural machinery and improvement of agricultural production will contribute to the process of improvement of the quality of life of local population.

 “Agricultural production in Ozodagon jamoat was at a very low level due to lack of agricultural machinery. Agricultural equipment would let local farmers increase their production and expand their opportunities in terms of cultivation of more profitable crops,” the source said. Therefore, thanks to the given project, which is funded by the Japanese Embassy, “Sarmantoy” association of water users was provided with required equipment, including one tractor and excavator.

Humanitarian security aid for wider population is mainly provided to local authorities, NGOs, educational and medical institutions in developing countries. Starting from 1996, the government of Japan has supported 250 humanitarian projects worth $16.9 million aimed at development in Tajikistan.