USAID Helps Families in Khatlon Region Grow Potatoes and Wheat

Khatlon region, Tajikistan, October 24 – November 30, 2022 – USAID will distribute seed potatoes, wheat seeds and mineral fertilizer to 25,000 families in 12 target districts of Khalton between October 24 and November 30, 2022. USAID selected seed potatoes and wheat seeds to distribute to these families as these are familiar crops to the households, easy to grow, and provide good sources of energy and vitamins. These crops also preserve well and can be stored over the winter.

The State Agency of Social Protection has supported the initiative by provided the official list of families in the target districts who are prone to food insecurity. These families have become more susceptible to the shocks and economic pressures from regional and cross-border conflicts which have caused reductions in remittance inflows, disruptions in the supply chain and price increases for both imported basic goods, as well as for locally produced and seasonal food sources.

“I am proud that we are able to carry out this timely intervention to increase family production, enhancing food security during a period of crises with rising prices. Through this activity USAID assists the Government of Tajikistan to reduce hunger, undernutrition, and poverty of smallholder farmers by providing inputs for production when stressed farmers would likely otherwise skimp on these increasingly expensive investments,” emphasized Peter Riley, USAID Tajikistan Mission Director.