With a scientific-practical conference, efforts to ensure food security and access to high quality nutrition as well as improve veterinary services concluded in Dushanbe on June 26.

The event was held within the FAO project to strengthen institutions and capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and state veterinary inspection service for policy formulation, funded by the European Union.

According to the FAO Country Office in Tajikistan, the conference took place in the Tajik Agrarian University.  Representatives of the Tajik Veterinary Institute, the Institute of Biological Safety Problems, and stakeholder organizations attended.  The event reportedly provided an occasion for participants to learn about opportunities and challenges of private veterinary services, food security, and access to high quality nutrition in the country.

The program consisted of presentations on the work of the Tajikistan Veterinary Association in the frame of the project and the importance for designing development strategy of private veterinary practices.

With a growing global population, urbanization and changing food preferences consumption of animal products is expected to increase in the immediate future. A consumption demand will likely fuel the need for livestock expansion as well.  Veterinary services should be strengthened for the benefit of people, animals and the environment, considering the contribution to livestock supply chains.

Veterinary activities make a vital contribution to all stages of livestock production from farm to fork by mitigating animal diseases and public health risks, improving levels of production and attaining food

Since 2016 the European Union and FAO are working together to support the agricultural policy reforms in the country, including the development of relevant strategies, designing institutional frameworks and strengthening the technical knowledge and skills of government and non-governmental institutions.