OSCE Centre launches agribusiness consulting centres in Tajikistan

DARBAND, 20 September 2006 - An OSCE-supported agribusiness consulting centre that will provide farmers and entrepreneurs with technical and legal information as well as business advice and training opened today in Darband, Nurabad District.

"We support centres of this kind to help farmers prosper by providing information and advice on starting agricultural businesses, taxation of agricultural enterprises and marketing," said Bess Brown, Economic Officer in the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe. "The centre also offers farmers technical advice on improving their produce and fighting pests and diseases in order to make their crops more marketable."

The OSCE Centre plans to open five more consulting centers for rural entrepreneurs and farmers in Shaartuz, Kurgan-Tyube, Jomi, Qumsangir and Dushanbe.

The project is part of the OSCE Centre's support for Tajikistan's land reform process. It contributes to the country's program for meeting domestic food supply needs and developing agricultural exports.