Poverty Reduction Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2007-2009.

This Poverty Reduction Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2007-2009 (PRS), is a medium-range socio-economic development programme for the country. It outlines concrete actions to implement institutional and economic reforms that will promote sustainable economic growth and quality of social services aimed at easing the burden of poverty in the country. The long-term socio-economic development goals are set forth in the National Development Strategy (NDS). The goal of the PRS is to improve the standard of living, particularly among socially vulnerable segments of the population, through economic growth and an increase in human potential. The goal of the PRS is reflected in the targets that describe the development of all the main aspects of the people’s welfare during the PRS implementation period. These poverty reduction targets are shown in Table 2.5.2. Food security and agricultural development will be achieved by providing a reliable, stable and balanced food supply through a dynamic and steady increase in agricultural output, higher incomes and employment levels among the rural population, as well as the conservation of natural resources for expanded reproduction.
The PRS goals reflect the influence of external and internal factors that the country has to deal with in its development. In addition to external factors such as a lack of an outlet to the sea, its distance from the markets of high-income countries, the instability of the region in which the country is located and drug-trafficking and terrorism threats, the country’s development faces serious internal obstacles, such as an ineffective public administration system, an undiversified economy and an insufficient competitive environment, high demographic growth and a decline in the level of inherited human and physical capital. The PRS is based on the conviction that coordinated efforts on the part of the state and society, with the help of development partners, will overcome the effect of these factors and fulfil the PRS goals, laying the foundation for meeting the NDS goals as well. The government hopes that donor organizations will make changes in their country assistance programmes, taking into account the NDS and PRS to the extent possible.
Proceeding from the NDS/PRS goals and the NDS priorities, and in view of the problems that have been described in the sector encompassing food security and development of the agricultural sector, the following main medium-range tasks have been identified: 1) implementation of institutional reforms; 2) increased efficiency in the cotton sector; 3) providing for guarantees and securing land-use rights; 4) improving the condition and raising the effectiveness of the agricultural and water resource management infrastructure; 5) improvement of the conditions for the development of rural entrepreneurial activity; 6) ensuring a healthy diet. Section 6.6. deals with the Promotion of gender equality establishing an effective mechanisms to broaden women’s access to resources (task 2) entails the implementation of information campaigns and expansion of the practice of setting quotas for young women and men from remote regions.
Special measures are planned to improve the conditions for the development of rural entrepreneurial activity (task 5). These measures are aimed at promoting investment projects, including the attraction of funds from labour migrants to: establish service businesses (leasing, etc.); develop animal husbandry at private farms; support the establishment of dairy farms, sheep farming for meat production, poultry farming, yak and goat herding in mountainous and high-elevation regions, apiculture and fish farming (phase 1); and the organization of private livestock insemination centres in jamoats (rural municipalities). Farms will be given better access to financial resources and support will be provided to ensure that they are supplied with seeds, fertilizers, chemicals and other materials. There are plans to improve the quality of veterinary, seed selection and seed production services through the involvement of the private sector. Research on the food market will be performed and market services will be provided, and a study will be made of the feasibility of simplified regulation and taxation of sole-proprietor, micro- and small agricultural enterprises (including service businesses and cotton sowing operations). It is expected that economic, legal and consulting services will be provided on issues of land use and private business development in the agricultural sector (pag. 39).
This Strategy is divided as follows: 1. Introduction; 2. Results of Implementation of the PRSP for 2002-2006; 3. Goals and Key Directions of the PRS Policy for 2007-2009; 4. Establishment of the General Conditions for Development (Functional Block); 5. Promotion of Sustainable Economic Growth (Production Block); 6. Development of Human Potential (Social Block; 7. Financing of PRS Implementation; 8. Management of PRS Implementation and Monitoring. Appendixes are divided as follows: Activity Matrix for 2007-2009; Monitoring Matrix; PRS Prioritization Principles; Participation in the Development of the NDS/PRS.