Support Tajikistan’s apricot industry by establishing a sustainable National Task Force, developing a value chain analysis and contributing to upgrading strategy design, and enhancing capacities of value chain actors on the sustainable development of apricot production
In 2021, FAO launched the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative to support inclusive, profitable, and sustainable agrifood systems through selected Special Agricultural Products (SAPs). The goal is to improve food security, healthy diets, and livelihoods while protecting biodiversity. OCOP promotes sustainable production, storage, processing, and marketing of SAPs.
In October 2022, the Government of Tajikistan selected apricots as its SAP, with the Ministry of Agriculture as the national lead.
As part of these efforts, FAO and UNIDO’s Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) are analyzing the apricot value chain in Tajikistan, especially in Sughd and Khatlon. This analysis, using FAO’s Sustainable Food Value Chain (SFVC) approach, will guide the creation of an upgrade strategy, export plan, and resource mobilization project.
A cooperation agreement has been signed with the Agricultural Advisory Organization Neksigol Mushovir as a national partner to assist FAO in implementing this activity.
| Use case | Sustainable Farming, Climate Smart agriculture, Green Technology, Reduction of food loss and waste, Supply Chain Management, Value Chain Development, Access to Market, Apricot, One Country One Priority Product, Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator |
| Funding | FAO is supporting OCOP in Tajikistan through two projects: (1) The global project «Scaling the Implementation of OCOP Initiative” (FVC/GLO/184/MUL), funded by the Flexible Voluntary Contribution, covering 11 countries including Tajikistan. It aims to boost SAP-based value chains tied to local culture and environments while improving market access at all levels. (2) The national project «Increase Agri-food Product Exports through Green Development and Enhanced Market Access” (TCP/TAJ/3903/C3) |
| Donor | FAO |
| Focus Area | To support the sustainable development of Tajikistan’s apricot sector by strengthening value chain governance, facilitating the implementation of ongoing FAO projects, and enhancing sustainable production capacities throughout the apricot value chain. |
| Objectives | Three key outputs will contribute to achieving the main goal: Output 1: A National Task Force (NTF) for Tajikistan’s apricot sector is established and operational to coordinate OCOP implementation and apricot sector development, ensure stakeholder engagement and alignment with national agricultural policies. Output 2: FAO OCOP-ASTA activities in Tajikistan are facilitated, and partnerships strengthened to support the successful development of the apricot value chain. Output 3: The capacities of apricot value chain actors are enhanced in sustainable and green technologies and practices across production, storage, processing, and marketing. |
| Start Date | 18-06-2025 |
| End Date | 30-11-2025 |
| Duration | 5,5 months |
| Coverage | Apricot value chain in Tajikistan, especially in Sughd and Khatlon |
| Beneficiaries | Apricot Value Chain actors |
| Beneficiary number | Ministry of Agriculture, the National Task Force (NTF) for Tajikistan’s apricot sector with 10 members, 25 participants of trainings (Apricot Value Chaen actors) on sustainable and green technologies and practices across the production, storage, processing, and marketing stages of the apricot value chain |
| Partners | Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan |
| Key activities | — Identify key stakeholders in the apricot value chain, and map their roles and interests in apricot development to ensure comprehensive representation in the NTF — Finalize the NTF Terms of References (ToR) including structure, procedures and operational guidelines, outlining roles and responsibilities, decision-making processes, communication channels, and meeting protocols to ensure effective operation — Conduct raining sessions for NTF members to enhance their understanding of the apricot value chain, greening and sustainable practices, and effective coordination strategies; and provide guidance on best practices for stakeholder engagement and policy alignment — Organize regular meetings and workshops for the NTF to discuss progress, challenges, and opportunities in apricot development, and facilitate discussions to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing among members and coordination with relevant national and regional agricultural policies and programs, and other agricultural development efforts in Tajikistan — Prepare and disseminate regularly reports on progress, challenges, and outcomes summarizing the NTF’s meetings, decisions, and outcomes — Work with the NTF to develop a sustainability plan to ensure its continued operation beyond the initial establishment phase and identify funding sources and partnerships to support ongoing NTF activities — In collaboration with the ASTA International Consultants, select a representative sample of value chain actors (stakeholders involved in production, aggregation, processing, and distribution, and others) using a stratified sampling method. The sample size will accurately reflect the apricot sector in Tajikistan — Once training on the FAO Sustainable Food Value Chain (SFVC) methodology is provided by the FAO and UNIDO International Consultants to NM team, conduct a field survey using key informant interviews and focus group discussions (including field mission, and travel arrangements to conduct the survey); and support the preparation of the strategic interventions and investment and action plans — Organize and conduct three multi-stakeholder workshops following ASTA methodology: Inception Workshop; Workshop to present the apricot value chain analysis and preliminary enhanced business model; Validation Workshop for the Upgrading Strategy, including the Export and Market Diversification Strategy and the ASTA facilitation project proposal — Develop communication materials to share knowledge and increase visibility of the actions undertaken by FAO and NM — Strengthen partnerships and mobilize resources to develop and implement the ASTA project proposal, aimed at promoting sustainability and competitiveness in the apricot industry -Organize and conduct a Terminal Workshop for project activities and contribute to the OCOP annual meeting — Conduct a capacity assessment of environmentally sustainable practices and technologies across the apricot value chain; and identify key value chain actors, organizations, extensionists, and technical specialists who will participate in the training sessions — Organize and deliver a series of training sessions on climate-smart agriculture, good agricultural practice and innovative approaches for sustainable plant production and protection, resource efficiency, and the sustainable development of apricots in Tajikistan. This includes providing all necessary equipment and materials, such as training venues, transportation for trainers, projectors, attendance sheets, presentations, and other relevant materials — Prepare a comprehensive report on green technologies and practices in production, storage, processing, and marketing to support the sustainable development of Tajikistan’s apricot sector |
| Expected Results | — Apricot value chain stakeholder mapping — NTF Terms of Reference (ToR) — Two trainings on apricot value chain delivered to NTF members — Number of meetings held jointly by NM and NTF — NTF quarterly reports — Exit strategy / NTF sustainability plan — A sample of value chain actors, including contact deails and «theorical» business models (BMs) templates created and translated into local languages to collect primary data — Contribution to the VCA/D Report, focusing on prepaing «enhanced BMs» («with and witout project scenrio»), and the Upgrading strategy (in Excel and Word): (1) average VC’s actors operating accounts, (2) technical parameters and assumptions, (3) incremental cost-benefit analysis and financial assessment, and (4) financial model and modalities of implementation — Three multi-stakeholder workshops organized in Tajikistan (following ASTA methodology) — 5 communication products, including human stories from the field, press release, workshop announcements, technical interviews, videos, etc. — 1 Terminal Workshop — Capacity assessment report — At least 5 training sessions delivered to VC’s actors on green agriculture and environmental sustainability — Report prepared on greening technologies and practices in apricots value chain |
