NGO Promotes Institutional Development; Farmers Modernize Practices in Tajikistan

More than 145 farmers in Tajikistan

have acquired new ICT skills since March, thanks to a burgeoning joint venture between ITAP and local NGOs committed to helping develop the country’s agricultural sector.

Rustam Nasriddinov, head of the Tajik agricultural NGO Lola Farming, inspired the initiative by asking IATP to conduct a mobile training-of-trainers in February 2009.  A veteran IATP user himself, Nasriddinov set up a website for Lola Farming after receiving Web design training at the Dushanbe center. He continued to draw on IATP resources by coordinating the February training-of-trainers, which was designed to prepare three NGO employees and five farmers to train farmers in Tajikistan in basic computer skills and demonstrate how advanced technologies could help develop their businesses.

Ahliddin Qurbonov, an employee of the NGO Anvor, participated in the IATP training-of-trainers and now offers computer and internet courses to local farmers in Vahdat. Anyor was originally implementing a project to provide legal support and business planning skills to farmers. But, he says, they quickly realized that teaching farmers ICT skills was essential: “Without knowledge of information technology, it would be nearly impossible for the farmers to move to the next level of their development.”

Now Qurbonov provides ICT training at little or no cost to the local farming community. He says a computer basics course costs just $11-16 per month. The moderate fee includes a two-hour lesson three times a week, and is just enough to cover the cost of operating three computers and internet access.

“I used to teach just a computer basics course. But now that I’ve been trained through IATP, I can offer courses in Microsoft Office applications as well as internet basics. Offering these classes provides much-needed revenue to our NGO for its sustainability. Farmers also frequent the Anvor office to use the internet, and use Office applications to write the reports they have to submit to the government,” says Qurbonov.

IATP training sessions and internet access have helped farmers in a host of other ways as well. Hojisobir Safoev, head of the local farming NGO Rozikiyon, reports that since his training he has used the internet to become more familiar with common livestock diseases. His new knowledge often helps Safoev and his colleagues prevent, diagnose and treat animal health issues. Early care can make a big difference; as Safoev explains, it can take a long time for a veterinarian to visit ailing animals and in some cases a farmer can lose livestock because of the delay.

Safarov Islom, a farmer from Vahdat, explained how his son sent him additives from Russia for his livestock feed in the spring.  When the package arrived, however, he realized all of the directions had been rubbed off en route and he did not know how much product to mix with his feed. Thanks to IATP-supported training, Islom researched the brand name online and learned how to properly use the additives. Armed with ICT skills, Tajikistan’s farmers can look outside the country for the latest technologies. Islom says when materials are imported from abroad vital instructions are often missing, but now local farmers are using the internet as a crucial information resource.

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[excel training]

A strong civil society is needed for the growth and development of democracy. Civil society represents the reservoir of resources -- political, economic, cultural, and moral -- to complement and, when necessary, to check the power of the State. A dynamic and diverse civil society directly stimulates social and political participation, increasing the involvement and commitment of citizens and promoting an appreciation of the obligations as well as the rights of citizenship.