Agricultural water and energy management in Tajikistan:a new opportunity

Agricultural water use in Tajikistan is largely based on mechanized irrigation pumps. The farming community cannot afford the cost of the energy used for pumping, resulting in large debts to the service provider. We propose limiting pumping facilities for five years in exchange for energy export to neighbouring countries. The energy export could cover the annual pumping expenditures, pay off agricultural debt and partly rehabilitate the irrigation network. We suggest three scenarios with different pumping energy reductions, and the relevant technical parameters of the set-aside scheme are assessed

The primal garden: Tajikistan as a biodiversity hotspot of food crop wild relatives

Despite being located within a primary region of crop diversity, documentation of Tajik crop and crop wild relative (CWR) resources is far from comprehensive, particularly regarding CWR. Here, we compile the first inventory of food CWR of Tajikistan. A total of 549 food CWR taxa belonging to 36 families and 125 genera were documented as occurring in the country. Among them, 71 taxa were recognized as native close relatives of globally important crops (category 1A), 67 as native distant relatives of these crops (1B) and 411 as native taxa with an undetermined relationship to these crops (1C). This documented CWR diversity far exceeds previous scientific assessments for the country and, in doing so, distinguishes the Tajik region from surrounding countries. Within the country, the results indicate a clear gradient of food CWR taxonomic richness from the eastern part of the country (least diversity) to the western part (greatest diversity). This trend adds important new information to the body of literature published by N. I. Vavilov and others, who mainly stressed the importance of the Pamir region (Eastern Tajikistan) for crop and CWR diversity

Energy security, poverty and sovereignty in mountain communities of Tajikistan

This dissertation research examines the vulnerabilities of energy systems in Tajikistan at the national scale, assesses the energy needs and resources of rural mountain communities at the local scale, and recommends energy solutions to improve the security of energy systems and livelihood opportunities of local communities. It advances the concepts of energy security, energy poverty and energy sovereignty from national and community perspectives. Using mixed-method research design and employing survey research, and in-depth interviews, in addition to literature review and secondary data analysis, this research identifies the energy needs at the household level, and sheds light onto national energy system vulnerabilities. Based on the analysis of available data, this research highlights key vulnerabilities of the energy system including insufficient energy production capacity, unreliable and expensive energy imports, dwindling power infrastructure causing technical and economic losses, inadequate transparency in the power sector, lack of regional cooperation in energy and water resource sharing, and inadequate financial resources to address all of the above. This research finds that energy poverty reflects the current condition of access to energy services at the level of the community and household in rural villages of the southeastern part of Khatlon region, Tajikistan. Rural communities continue to rely on solid biomass (wood, straw, animal dung) to meet their thermal energy needs, and many households are not connected to the electrical grid. For those connected to the grid, access to electricity is neither reliable nor affordable. This research recommends a potential intermediate solution to local energy access that entails proliferation of small-scale technologies such as solar home systems, micro-hydro units, biogas digesters, improved cookstoves, residential wind turbines and thermal insulation of homes. These technologies may be optimal to rural areas as they are smartly deployed, easily maintained and configurable to needs, plus cost-effective and environmentally sustainable in the long-term. Businesses, together with governments and civil society organizations can take advantage of technologies to lead the transition from energy poverty to security. Ultimately, the policymakers, energy planners and providers should prioritize the role of households and their communities in addressing their energy challenges

Agricultural water and energy management in Tajikistan: a new opportunity

Agricultural water use in Tajikistan is largely based on mechanized irrigation pumps. The farming community cannot afford the cost of the energy used for pumping, resulting in large debts to the service provider. We propose limiting pumping facilities for five years in exchange for energy export to neighbouring countries. The energy export could cover the annual pumping expenditures, pay off agricultural debt and partly rehabilitate the irrigation network. We suggest three scenarios with different pumping energy reductions, and the relevant technical parameters of the set-aside scheme are assessed

Medicinal Plants and Health Sovereignty in Badakhshan, Afghanistan: Diversity, Stewardship, and Gendered Knowledge

Medicinal plants are fundamental to health sovereignty, providing vital healthcare and livelihood options for rural mountain communities. We conducted 284 interviews with 416 participants in Badakhshan Province of northeastern Afghanistan focusing on the collection, use, sale, and management of medicinal plants. Participants identified 48 plants within 45 categories of treatment and prevention. The greatest number of plants were used to treat hypertension (14 plants), followed by kidney aids (12), analgesics (11), gastrointestinal aids (11), and dermatological aids (9). Comparisons with hospital records suggest that medicinal plants treat common ailments and preempt the need for some hospital visits. In addition, medicinal plants provide a source of livelihood for approximately 25% of participants. Many gatherers are concerned about the impacts of harvesting on medicinal plant resources. Collaborative research and knowledge exchange are necessary to enhance health sovereignty and community-based stewardship that sustain medicinal plant diversity in the context of increasing commercialization