DUSHANBE, November 21, 2013, Asia-Plus -- On November 19, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Susan M. Elliott; USAID Central Asian Republics Mission Director Ambassador Jonathan Addleton; Mirzodavlat Saburov, Agricultural Unit Head under the Executive Office of President; Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources Rahmat Bobokalonov; Suyunkhon Rustamov First Deputy Minister of Agriculture; and Rajabali Rajabov Deputy Head of Khatlon Province on Economic Affairs gathered in Qurghon Teppa to highlight food security accomplishments in Tajikistan and to launch new USAID Feed the Future projects, the U.S Embassy in Dushanbe said.

Emphasizing the need to include nutrition activities when working to improve food security, Ambassador Elliott said, “Efforts to integrate agriculture and nutrition programs will contribute to healthier, more productive and resilient communities by ensuring improved access to better quality food, and thus increasing the quality and diversity of diets.”

During the past two years in Tajikistan, Feed the Future has helped farmers improve agricultural production, income, and nutrition on household and small commercial farms.  It has built local capacity to develop an effective system of agricultural and health extensions to reach the rural population.  It has also provided policy support to implement agrarian reform.

In addition, USAID has worked with the Government of Tajikistan to launch several new projects including: (1) the Farmer Advisory Services in Tajikistan Project, which works to improve agricultural extension in western Khatlon and to increase government capacity to implement agrarian reform policies; (2) the Land Reform and Farm Restructuring Project aimed at continuing the progress of dehqon farm restructuring and recognizing property rights leading to a market in land-use rights; and (3) the Maternal and Child Health Project which works to implement and strengthen globally recognized, evidence-based interventions for improving maternal and child health and nutrition.

Since 1992, the American people have invested over $1 billion in programs and humanitarian aid to improve the standard of living for the people of Tajikistan through support to Tajikistan''s democratic institutions, health care, education, and economic growth.