District Wheat Seed Association (ຕາຈິກິສະຕານ)

The Seed Association was established with the aims of improving the living conditions, food security, land management and crop rotation systems in irrigated and rain fed areas. The Seed association in Muminabad is registered at a district level and coordinates the activities of the farmers and members.

Aims / objectives: The aim of this approach is to provide a long term wheat seed bank to improve food security in the district of Muminabad, Tajikistan. Previously, there was a lack of readily available good quality seed that was appropriate to the soil, and climatic conditions of the area. The aim of the approach was to provide cost effective, appropriate wheat seeds to farmers with more than 5h.a. of land. The farmers receive training and onsite support during the cultivation period, and in return have to adopt a crop rotation system, and give back to the association 150% of the originally received seed stock. The association continues to cultivate, and test, high quality seeds on its own land for distribution, and for selling at the local market to generate revenue to cover its operational costs.

Methods: The Association's members have to stick to a set of pre-determined conditions in order to join, and so operations can be controlled. The members must implement changes in agricultural practices, to support the work of the association. In return the members receive high quality tested seed, training and a support network.

Stages of implementation: The initial set up of the wheat association was provided by INGO (Caritas Switzerland) who provided the initial funding and support, which was supplemented by the provision of a 150h.a of arable land by the government. The initial five members of the association were provided with training in organisational set up and business development, they employed the services of an agronomist to help acquire appropriate seeds and develop a seed bank on the arable land. The association registered as a legal entity, and the INGO provided co-funding for agricultural machinery and fuel, for the development of the seed bank. Once sufficient seed was accumulated to start distribution, farmers with just 5h.a. of irrigated land were invited to become members. The members had to provide land user documentation, accept to undertake crop rotation techniques, and follow the advice of the association’s agronomist in return for free seed.

Role of stakeholders: The role of the stakeholders is to follow all the rules of the association, which include the strict compliance with a set of pre-determined conditions laid out in a contract. There is a strong element of trust among the association and its members. Such an environment helps make the wheat growing in the district successful.

Other important information: The approach is highly reliant on effective communication between the association's specialists and it's members. The members communicate with specialists regarding technological issues, land management and other issues that are not clear in the process. In return, the association through the agronomist provides timely support, advice and materials (e.g. fertiliser, pesticides). If the members are very successful and produce high quality seed from the association’s batch, the association will buy all the seed the farmer cultivated, and use it to improve the seed stock of the district.