Evaluation Report: Improvement of household food security in Zeravshan Valley, Tajikistan

The project was initiated by Welthungerhilfe in January 2006, with a foreseen
duration of 30 months (01.01.2006 - 30.06.2008), and with the objective
referring to the improvement of the nutritional status and purchasing capacity of
vulnerable, food insecure rural households in 22 selected villages of Ayni and
Gorno Matcha district, Zeravshan Valley, Tajikistan. In order to reach this
objective, three main components were carried out:
• Improvement of drinking water supply systems and hygienic conditions
• Provision of inputs and know-how for improved sustainable production,
storage and processing of agricultural and horticultural products
• Establishment of marketing structures for cash-crops
During the ongoing period of project implementation, the overall political and
social conditions allowed an undisturbed implementation of the project. Over the
winter season 2007-2008, extremely low temperatures caused heavy losses of
stored agricultural products, thus drastically affecting the food security of the
rural population and the availability of seeds. As a consequence of this the
number of men migrating to Russia was considerably higher than in previous
years. During the second half of the implementation period, an increasing
inflation rate produced a rise in prices for food, fuel, building materials and other
items, thus restraining construction / rehabilitation activities of rural
infrastructures like drinking water supply systems and storage facilities.