KULOB, December 4, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The World Bank is helping communities in Tajikistan adapt to the climate change risks.

Abdurazzoq Khojamqulov, the head of the economy and trade department at the Kulob mayor’s office, says the project is financed through a US$9.45 million grant from the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience of the Strategic Climate Fund (PPCR) and a US$5.4 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund.

“The Project will be implemented in Farkhor, Kulob, Khovaling, and Baljuvon districts of Khatlon province and Tavildara, and Jirgatol districts that are subordinate to the center (Rasht Valley),” said Khojamqulov.  “The project will help resolve many agricultural problems, including cleaning of irrigation canals, establishment and operation of greenhouse farms and purchase of small agricultural machines.”

He further added that Kulob specialists were currently solving the issue of consolidating this project and the OXFAM-supported project aimed at improving agricultural knowledge of 3,000 residents of Kulob district.

We will recall that the Government of Tajikistan and the World Bank launched the Tajikistan Environmental Land Management and Rural Livelihoods Project aiming to support sustainable management of natural resources in Tajikistan and increase the resilience of communities to climate change impacts in October 2013.

The agriculture sector is important for Tajikistan, as it accounts for 21 percent of GDP and 64 percent of employment.  The project aims to benefit rural households by helping them carry out more effective and sustainable production and land management practices, and thereby helps build their resilience to climate change and improve their livelihoods.  This will be done by providing small grants to villages for climate adaptation measures and sustainable land management, engaging civil society organizations to work with communities on these issues and supporting analytical work and capacity-building in areas related to climate change risks and adaptation, integrated land, water and grazing management, and incentive-based approaches for sustainable land management.  The Project will be implemented in Farkhor, Kulob, Khovaling, Baljuvon, Tavildara, and Jirgatol.