In May 2021, heavy rainfall on the territory of the republic caused a series of natural disasters, such as mudflows, which entailed numerous destruction, economic losses and even human casualties. The Government of Tajikistan took urgent measures to unite efforts in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters and their further prevention in the future.

As the result of the flood happened, the irrigation systems of several districts in Khatlon region were affected. The natural disaster caused serious damages to the agriculture crops of the farmers causing huge economic loss for the poor and vulnerable households in Kulyab city, Vakhsh and A. Jomi districts. 

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in response to a request from the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, provided support to the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation (ALRI) under the Government of Tajikistan by providing 20 tons of diesel fuel for cleaning and maintenance of irrigation channels in Kulyab, Vakhsh and Abudahmoni Jomi districts.

In the frame of JICA-ALRI collaboration, more than 750 meters of Kulyab riverbank in Laghmon village located in Kulyab was strengthened in addition more than 20 km of irrigation channels in A. Jomi and Vakhsh districts were cleaned. 

On 7th September 2021, the results of the joint-activity, including lessons learned, and the main problems of irrigation sector in Tajikistan were discussed during a seminar organized by JICA and ALRI in Kulyab city, bringing together irrigation experts from ALRI and its regional departments.

The participants thanked JICA for the support and emphasized on the importance of such activities for minimizing the risks of further damages caused by floods.

JICA began its technical cooperation with Tajikistan in 1993 by inviting Tajik officials to gain knowledge and experience on governance and macroeconomics development. As of March 2020, a total number of participants to JICA’s Knowledge Co-Creation Programs, formerly called the Training Programs, has exceeded 2380 people. JICA Office was established in 2006 in Tajikistan and since then various Grant Financial Assistance and Technical Cooperation projects have been implemented more dynamically, aiming at improving living standard of Tajik people for the sectors such as agriculture and rural development, water supply, health, transport, energy, capacity building as well as SME promotion. JICA’s cumulative investment portfolio in Tajikistan in all sectors comprises 44 projects amounting to more than 418.5 mln USD (94.66 mln USD for Technical Cooperation and 324 mln USD for Grant Assistance), including 14 ongoing projects. 

For more details about JICA’s cooperation in Tajikistan, please visit our website here https://www.jica.go.jp/tajikistan/english/index.html