Shirinmoh Rahimova, beneficiary of LITACA project is the only breadwinner in the family. “We are living in Tajik-Afghan cross-border district which is far away from the city. It’s not easy to find a relevant job for women in rural areas. I am happy for the opportunity to work in an onion processing workshop. Together with 20 other colleagues I have received a series of trainings on better processing, communicative marketing and on management of processing. We’ve started to sell our products around the country, including Dushanbe. We plan to expand our business and sell products widely.”
One Village One Product (OVOP) initiative was piloted for the first time in Tajikistan and Afghanistan to enable rural communities in both countries to grow, process and market local products and develop cross-border economic cooperation.
Feasibility study was conducted to identify OVOP initiatives in both countries. In Tajikistan, a unique product – pickled Wild Onion Anzur that grows in the mountainous areas in Shamsiddin Shohin and Lemons in Jayhun District cross-border districts with Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, it is Gilimi products (carpet goods that made of sheep wool), Nashpati Peers, Pomegranates in Yangi-Qala and Dashte-Qala of Takhar Province.
In Tajikistan under this initiative vocational trainings were provided to 185 entrepreneurs (including 55 women), agro processing workshop was constructed and necessary equipment for production of pickled wild onion (piyozi anzur) and other feasible products (pickled tomatoes, cucumbers, fruits compotes, dry fruits, etc.) were provided.
In addition to agro processing workshop, LITACA project, through small grants initiative, supported construction of green houses for cultivation of lemons in Jayhun (Qumsangir) district. The production capacity is about 100 tones of lemons annually. In autumn of 2017, the bulk price of lemons per kilo was 8 TJS (US$0.90) per kilogram.
By December 2017, the OVOP initiative in Tajikistan covered 350 households (direct beneficiaries: 1,000 (520 female) people, 20 seasonal and 10 permanent jobs. OVOP initiative allowed Beneficiaries along borders start to know how to provide high quality local and agricultural products. Not only quality and trade but also plan the marketing strategy such as business-to-business meetings, match making events, business forums and trade fairs, between entrepreneurs from both countries that created new opportunities to establish and develop better cooperation.
This whole sequence can make local people independent to run their business self-sufficient and sustainable, also support to energize the communication along borders that enhance the partnership between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
