ADB Approves $17.5M Grant to Enhance Agricultural Skills and Food Security for Women in Tajikistan

Tajikistan's agriculture sector is heavily reliant on female labor, but women often lack access to climate-resilient agricultural practices essential for productivity.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $17.5 million grant to bolster food security and improve agricultural skills among women in Tajikistan. The funding will support the Resilient Livelihoods and Empowerment of Rural Women Project, targeting six districts in the Khatlon province—Bokhtar, Farkhor, Kulob, Pyanj, Shahritus, and Vose.

This project is designed to increase productivity on women-led farms, enhance agriculture processing and storage facilities, and provide crucial support to vulnerable women. "ADB invests in women as agents of change,” said Yevgeniy Zhukov, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia. “This project offers comprehensive support to vulnerable women by enhancing their agricultural skills and roles within the agriculture value chain, thus boosting their employability and improving food security.”

Tajikistan's agriculture sector is heavily reliant on female labor, but women often lack access to climate-resilient agricultural practices essential for productivity. The country faces significant climate change impacts, such as drought and heat stress, exacerbating food insecurity. Women frequently endure the harsh effects of this insecurity, including skipping meals or consuming less nutritious food.

The grant will provide female farmers with essential agricultural inputs, including drying facilities, greenhouses, and water-saving irrigation technologies. They will also receive training in financial management, production technologies, and nature-based solutions. The project will focus on high-income potential sectors like fruits, vegetables, and beekeeping.

Additionally, the project will establish small-scale post-harvest processing and storage hubs to enhance product quality, aiming to increase value in local and export markets. It will also introduce digital learning and agricultural trade platforms.

A critical component of the project is the establishment of a shelter offering support services for survivors of domestic and other forms of violence. This facility will provide counseling, a referral system, livelihood training, and entrepreneurial opportunities, in collaboration with the Committee on Women and Family Affairs and the Khatlon Administration.

The Ministry of Agriculture, the Committee for Women and Family Affairs, and the Khatlon Administration will oversee the project’s implementation.

Since joining ADB in 1998, Tajikistan has benefited from over $2.6 billion in assistance from the bank, including more than $2 billion in grants, spanning sectors such as infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, urban development, and finance.