J.14_CIP's_work_plan_for_January_-_December_2015.docx

POTATO PRODUCTION SUPPORT AND RESEARCH TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY IN KHATLON, TAJIKISTAN

WORK PLAN

YEAR V OCTOBER 2013 – SEPTEMBER 2014

Prepared for: United States Agency for International Development

Submitted by: International Potato Center

Title of the project:

“Potato Production Support and Research to Improve Food Security in Khatlon, Tajikistan”

Background:

In Tajikistan’s Khatlon province 47,2 % of the population is poor and lives below the poverty line of $2 threshold per day. The reasons for this are numerous, mainly referring to a historically state- controlled economy system, a five-year civil war, high levels of rural unemployment, a national chronic vulnerability to food insecurity, and an agricultural strategy heavily focused on cotton. Land productivity has also decreased due to recent economic and social shocks. The last, but not the least, factor refers to male migration to Russia that has aggravated female-headed household conditions, disproportionately affected by poverty and discrimination.

The goal of USAID’s Feed the Future program in Tajikistan is to sustainably raise the income of over 250,000 people in selected districts of Khatlon Province, and to improve nutrition knowledge, food availability, and household utilization of food. USAID surveys indicated that potato may be used as a catalyst to create further economic opportunities for smallholders, thus not only improving nutrition aspects, but also contributing to poverty reduction through its commercialization in the local market.

Project Objectives:

The proposed project seeks to reduce rural poverty through improved technology options and strengthened rural institutions engaged in market value chains that are connected to domestic markets.

The long term objectives (goals) of the project are:

· Improve the welfare of poor small holder potato farmers in Khatlon province through increased income and food security;

· Build capacities among local advisors and potato growers of Khatlon province so as to improve quality potato production for the fresh market, thus incrementing food availability.

The project’s specific objectives (purpose) are:

· Improve the competitiveness of potato farmers targeted by USAID through the introduction of adapted technologies.

WORK PLAN FOR JANUARY –DECEMBER 2015

Activities

· Identify whether previously identified research and training needs correspond to field reality

· Select progressive farmers to be chosen for demonstration plots

· Negotiate with local seed suppliers for provision of seed

· Establish 10 farmers’ demonstration plots in February to demonstrate CIP genotypes productivity under Khatlon conditions and positive selection method.

· Establish 14 farmers’ demonstration plots in August to demonstrate CIP genotypes productivity under Khatlon conditions.

· Establish 4 farmers’ demonstration plots (February 2015) where the techniques of potato cultivation under different planting dates plus improved technique of early potato production under plastic film will be demonstrated to smallholders

· During the growing season, the field assistant and the consultant will report daily activities in the demonstration plots, recording all the data concerning planting/sowing dates, harvesting dates, cultivation practices, inputs supplied (date and amount), man/hours per day, and so on, using a special “ad-hoc” prepared field-book

· Demonstration plots will be set up during the dual cropping system of the lowlands: (1) February to end of May–beginning of June, (2) mid-August–November. Since farmers have low access to seed for second growing season, we recommend that part of the seed potatoes harvested in June be used, after dormancy has been broken for planting in the second growing season of the lowlands. Plots will be organized to demonstrate technique of artificially breaking dormancy and germplasm materials productivity.

· Carry out field surveys (by local consultants) to identify pests dynamics and distribution

· Study the potato value chain to identify farmers and consumers’ priorities, gaps, bottlenecks, opportunities, potential outlets, and potato utilization

· Train smallholders in improved postharvest techniques (sorting at harvest, storage, pre-sprouting), breaking dormancy, and positive selection to improve local farmer-based seed production

· Prepare booklets and other training materials for dissemination

· Support to linkage between the seed growers based in the highlands of Tajikistan and smallholders’ in Khatlon

· Prepare midterm and final reports with lessons learned and recommendations.

Management Plan Before project continues a Skype meeting will be organized with main CIP collaborators based in Lima, Peru in the beginning of 2015. The objective is to discuss and agree on (1) human resources employed at project level, (2) supply of ELISA kits to regularly test the quality of seed supplied by partners, (3) germplasm materials used by the project, (4) advising on the implementation of a value chain study, (5) reporting and accounting procedures, and (6) training materials produced by the project to diffuse improved technology and germplasm.

Since red skin varieties have a premium market in Tajikistan, CIP candidate potato varieties like 392797.22 (UNICA), 720189 (Pukara-Inia), 392780.1, and var. ‘Aladin’ (AGRICO) will be supplied by partners working in Jirgatol district mountains in collaboration with CIP. Potato seeds will be procured fromNGO Tuhmiparvar-CIP’s partner in the past, who multiplies CIP clons and some seed growers based in Jirgatol district, for the supply of seeds to be planted in February 2015. Owing to the fact that it would be impossible to reach the Jirgatol district during spring—most of the roads in the highlands where seeds are stored are closed—we arranged for seeds. They will be stored in the cold store facilities that CIP built at the Research Institute of Botany, Plant Physiology and Genetics, Dushanbe, until January 2015, and dormancy broken by thermic shock (i.e., by sudden increase of temperature).

The local consultant/agronomist will be charged for agronomic aspects and seconded by a field assistant. administrative assistant will be employed for specific activities to help organize training courses; invite participants; notify local authorities; and coordinate time and venue of training courses. He/she should work closely with the project consultant and be based in the targeted area.

Dr. Rusudan Mdivani will supervise the activities and will be seconded by Timur Abdurakhmanov (CIP research assistant), as needed. The project local consultant will report to the project supervisor/ research assistant on the implementation of activities on weekly basis.

Potato production support in khatlon, Tajikistan: Semi-annual technical report 4 Organizational Chart for the “Potato Production Support and Research to Improve Food Security in Khatlon, Tajikistan” project

FAST

Project Supervisor Rusudan Mdivani Smallholder 1 Institute of Botany, Plant Physiology and Genetics CIP HQ Management Team Seed Growers USAID Self-help groups Local Consultant USAID Collaboration / Coordination Smallholder 3 Field Assistant Regional Operations Leader, Asia Julian Parr Smallholder 2

Potato production support in khatlon, Tajikistan: Semi-annual technical report 5 WORK PLAN – GANTT CHART ( January 2015–December2015)

Output 1: activities

Output 2: Production technologies

Set up potato demonstration plots ( 756 m2 x 4 plots) – 1st growing season (demonstration of technique of early potato production

Output 3: Improved knowledge and skills

Output 4: Other activities

(*) = Khatlon is not a place for seed potato production because of the high virus pressure existing in the lowlands. Seed for the first season (called early) must only come from the highlands. Our proposal is for the study of the utilization of seed harvested in the first season and conveniently treated to break dormancy in order to be planted in the second season that starts in mid-August. This is the only solution because it is impossible to keep physiologically viable till mid-August seed potatoes that are harvested in the highlands in October.

Legend:

JP = Julian Parr, Director of Asia PS = Project Supervisor, Regional Science Leader image1.tiff