Background
Despite overall gains nationwide, food insecurity is endemic in southeast Khatlon, with Kulob Zone consistently one of the most impoverished regions of Tajikistan .

Chronic and acute malnutrition rates remain the highest in Kulob District . There are a number of reasons for this:

• Access to a limited amount of poor quality land for household production
• Those with access to land lack general agricultural knowledge and inadequate extension services to provide training and education
• Sharp declines in access to quality agricultural inputs
• Diminished capacity to control livestock disease and epidemics
• Reduced disposable income
• Lack of access to safe water in sufficient quantity

This project aims to address multiple causes of food insecurity at a local level in a way that will contribute in a significant and measurable way to the improvement of food security indicators.

Project Action
This project uses Community Organizations to help up to 24,000 residents of Ziraki Jamoat, an under-served and needy area in Khatlon, to make sustainable improvement in their food security and health. Access to food for vulnerable households is addressed via provision of agricultural inputs and training; training in keeping healthy livestock and support for livestock vaccinations; food processing training for women; repair of small-scale irrigation systems; land reform rights campaigns. A reduction in disease (which results in improved food uptake) is supported via repair and construction of clean drinking water systems, latrines, and hygiene education in schools and homes.

The project seeks to increase cash income for poor rural househols through a study to find new markets for products, food processing assistance, and better agricultural production. Links between Community Organizations aim at increasing long-term potential for further collective action.

Project Aims:
Sustainable increase in food access and absorption in vulnerable households in Ziraki.

Major Donor: EuropeAid

Project Code: TAJ-EUA-005
Location: Ziraki Jamoat, Khatlon Oblast