Training Tajik Farmers

Tajik farmers receive training in tax and accounting practices. Photo: Mercy Corps

The agriculture training program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded Integrated Rural Development program run by Mercy Corps has been training farmers in various parts of Tajikistan for the past year. This program provides needed training in the field of marketing, production, and taxation and accounting standards. Farmers who receive this training have made huge strides in creating more productive and more diverse farms.

Two training programs have stood out as particularly well received. These are the training in artificial insemination of livestock and the training in accounting and taxation.

Artificial Insemination training is very important for Tajik farmers who are interested in learning how to improve the quality and productivity of their animals. By utilizing semen imported from high producing sires the genetic potential of the native breeds can be improved.

One participant in the training said, "Before coming to the center I didn't know about artificial insemination. I was trying unsuccessfully to improve the quality of my animals and to have a larger herd. Now I have the knowledge to make this happen back in my farm."

The training takes place at a biotechnology training center and the participants each learn the methods and then practice them on actual cows.

Saidaliev Khursandmurod, the head of one of the cattle farms stated, "I have been unable to get the quality of calves I wanted mainly because I didn't know about artificial insemination. Now, I think I can improve the productivity of my herd with the knowledge I have gained here in the center."

This training has been extremely useful for individual farmers, however there is evidence that there has also been a ripple effect exhibited. Farmers are now seeking to help other farmers learn new methods and they are in turn becoming trainers themselves. One trainee commented, "Not only can I do for myself, but also I can help other farmers, I will train them how to do it."

The training on taxation and accounting was also a huge success. This training focuses on practical methods, and trainees worked in groups to complete exercises such as sample tax forms. The trainers were extremely diligent and worked to make sure each individual understood not only the tax code but also their own individual tax situation. In Tajikistan, there is a monetary penalty if you do complete your tax forms correctly, so training for farmers also helped them to save money and be more productive.