KULOB, August 13, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Oxfam Tajikistan has launched a new project in the Vose district, Khatlon province – Alleviating Poverty through Increasing Farmers’ Incomes.  The project is being implemented under financial support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The OXFAM project manager, Mirzomurod Samiyev, says the project is designed for two years and it will cover Kulob, Vose, Farkhor, Qumsangir, Bokhtar and Jomi districts in the southern Khatlon province.

“In all, some 80,000 people, including some 40,000 women, from 63 villages in the mentioned districts will get benefit from the project,” Samiyev said.

According to him, GIZ has set four main tasks of reduction of poverty in the targeted districts: measurable change of favorable conditions for supporting economic development of rural areas; stimulating economic activity in rural areas districts; improving access to new and existing financial services; and receiving incomes from expansion of trans-boundary corridor and economic activity.

Oxfam’s projects in Tajikistan focus on training, constructing greenhouses, introducing drip irrigation, and offering seeds and support.  Oxfam also provides marketing advice to small entrepreneurs.  Other activities include introducing household energy-saving techniques such as adapted stoves, solar heating and insulation.  Oxfam also responds to emergencies in Tajikistan.