Back from Cotton

Per capita wheat consumption in Tajikistan is normally among the highest in the world. However, setbacks in agricultural production from the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 were aggravated in Tajikistan by a lengthy civil war that ended in 1997. Drought, water shortages, and a lack of agricultural technology or inputs further crippled Tajik farmers’ ability to produce enough wheat for the impoverished population. Finally, farmers were forced to grow cotton during Soviet times, and thus have had little access to more recent, high yielding wheat varieties or modern wheatgrowing techniques. Although Tajikistan still imports about half of its wheat, production has been growing as a result of concerted efforts to improve the situation.

Raised Beds, Lower
Costs, Higher Yields,
Better Quality

The project is focusing on local seed production as a way of making new, improved varieties widely available in a country whose wheat seed industry is weak, and to provide farmers with additional income. Participating farmers have produced some 250 tons of wheat seed so far. In 2003, they sowed 200 hectares with improved varieties to produce seed for promotional activities.

Planting on raised beds saves significant amounts of water, fuel, and seed, all of which lower production costs for farmers.

But beds are also ideal for seed production: they facilitate weeding, allow farmers to maintain individual varieties separate, and generally enhance the quality of the seed. The seed Mirzobekov harvests from his beds will be distributed to other farmers. Mirzobekov expects yields of at least three tons per hectare—one ton more than his neighbors—mainly due to the use of beds and a new variety from the project. The variety is both higher yielding and resistant to yellow rust, a disease that cuts local farmers’ wheat yields most years.

Targeting Pathogens
and Pests

In addition to their role in the project, CIMMYT researcher Hafiz Muminjanov, who heads the center’s office in Tajikistan, and partners have helped more than 200 farmers to test improved varieties, mainly from the Turkey–CIMMYT–ICARDA International Winter Wheat Improvement Program. The project has provided farmers access to bed planting implements, which they will keep when the project ends. Participants have also organized certain farmers into mobile groups that visit fields and make planters, harvesters, and threshers available, as needed.

Since 2002, project researchers have focused on identifying and monitoring regionally important wheat pests and diseases to improve crop resistance. Plant pathologist Bernd Pett of GTZ has found yellow and leaf rusts to be the most damaging diseases, while cereal leaf beetles and aphids are the most common and harmful pests. In 2003, project funds helped purchase equipment to start a small pathology lab. Pett and other partners have started on extension work that involves producing and distributing posters and teaching farmers, specialists, and agronomists about their findings.

Sharing Helps

Sitting on a rug and wearing a green and white embroidered cap, Mirzobekov breaks flat Tandyr bread to share with his guests. On the wall hangs a wedding photo of his son in a black suit and tie and his daughter-in-law in a white dress holding red flowers. The couple lives in Russia and sends the Mirzobekov family money, a common practice and principal source of income in this region. “In 1992, if you asked someone to come to this village, they would say ‘no,’ ” he says, recalling memories of people fleeing to Dushanbe or the nearby Afghanistan border when the civil war broke out. Today Mirzobekov and Tajikistan look forward to a better future, thanks to their efforts and openness and with the aid of international partnerships such as those described here.

For more information:
a.morgounov@cgiar.org

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January, 2005