IFPRI CENTRAL ASIA NEWS WEEKLY DIGEST (JUNE 23 – JUNE 29, 2015)
News and Analysis
World Bank Helps Create Temporary Employment Opportunities in Agriculture in Tajikistan
(WB, 22 June 2015) The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved an allocation of additional financing of US$12 million from the International Development Association for the Second Public Employment for Sustainable Agriculture and Water Resources Management Project (PAMP-2), which focuses on improving agricultural production and creating temporary employment in rural districts of Tajikistan. The Additional Financing is designated to expand the public works component of the PAMP-2 project in order to create additional temporary employment opportunities for 10,000 more vulnerable rural population in the view of the economic slowdown, decreasing remittances and anticipated risks to households’ food security.
China's import of licorice from Central Asia surges
(English.News.cn, 23 June 2015) China has seen a significant rise in licorice root imports from Central Asia this, according to the article. A total of 4,043 tons of licorice root worth 5.2 million U.S. dollars, have been imported to China in the first five months in 2015, according to the Xinjiang Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau on Tuesday, doubled last year's amount. As Central Asian countries, especially Kazakhstan, abound with high-quality licorice root, China's pharmaceutical companies have flocked to Horgos to purchase the herb, suggests the article.
(Interfax-Ukraine, 24 June 2015) The Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine, as part of the negotiations on Kazakhstan joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), has managed to achieve the lifting of restrictions on imports of the dairy and meat products of eight Ukrainian producers to Kazakhstan, and agreements on the enlargement of the list by another seven companies have been reached, the ministry has reported, referring to the trade representative of Ukraine – deputy minister Natalia Mykolska. Kazakh news agencies also reported that Kazakh President Nazarbayev thanked Ukrainian President Poroshenko over the phone for supporting the country’s accession in the WTO.
Simplification of visa regime will promote expansion of Tajik-Uzbek economic cooperation
(Asia-Plus, 24 June 2015) Co-chaired by Tajik First Deputy Prime Minister Davlatali Said and Uzbek First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov, the third meeting of the Tajik-Uzbek intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation kicked off in the Uzbek capital on June 22. The Tajik delegation members include the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Industry and New Technologies, the Deputy Foreign Minister, the Customs Service Head, Tajik Railways Director and heads of Tajik Air (Tajik national air carrier) and Tajiktransgaz (Tajik state gas distributor). Stressing benefits of closer integration First Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan suggested that simplification of visa regime will promote development of trade and economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
(WB, 24 June 2015) The Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan (TajStat) has launched a new official poverty series and methodological note using a new approach in measuring poverty, marking a significant milestone in Tajikistan’s ability to monitor and strengthen the country’s poverty reduction efforts, according to the World Bank’s press release. The new National Poverty Measurement Methodology for Tajikistan was endorsed in April 2015 by Tajikistan’s Council for Poverty and Middle Class Measurement (Poverty Council) under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. The new approach is based on international best practice and was developed in partnership with the World Bank Group and with financial support from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).
Eurasian countries accelerate effort to reverse soil degradation trends
(FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, 26 June 2015) Nine countries including three Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, region adopted “Izmir Communique’” and a related draft five-year implementation plan for the Eurasia region to restore limited soil resources and stop alarming soil degradation trends, says FAO REC news release. Discussions built on the results of last year’s meetings held in Uzbekistan and Turkey, where countries agreed on actions in the areas of governance, public awareness, investment in soils, targeted soil research, soil data, and harmonizing methods for soil management and protection.
Workshop for dairy industry processors conducted in Dushanbe
(Asia-Plus, 26 June 2015) Fifteen dairy processors have attended a workshop organized by FAO and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies to discuss on how to improve and strengthen sustainable dairy industry development in Tajikistan, reports the news agency. The workshop was organized within the framework of FAO’s project in which international consultants shall conduct a SWOT analysis of the dairy sector and will propose effective measures for improvement of the efficiency of the dairy industry.
Uzbek sericulturists produced more than 26 tons of cocoons and fulfilled annual contractual obligations (in Russian)
(UZA.uz, 29 June 2015) Uzbek sericulturists produced more than 26 tons of cocoons and fulfilled annual contractual obligations, reports the National Information Agency (UZA.uz). Uzbekistan is the third largest silk-worm cocoon (reelable) producers in the world after China and India.
Publications
Fish diversity in Kyrgyzstan: Species composition, fisheries and management problems
(L.A. Kustareva and A.M. Naseka. 2015. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management. Vol. 18(2).)
Abstract: The territory of Kyrgyz Republic (or Kyrgyzstan) is interesting from a zoogeographical point of view, as it straddles several major ecoregions: Balkhash Lake basin, Chu River drainage, Lake Issyk-Kul basin, Talas-Ters drainage, Upper Syr Darya system, Upper Amu Darya system and Tarim basin. Species composition of fish faunas of all ecoregions are discussed and endemic species and subspecies listed. The degree of endemism is notable, reaching 55 and 70% in the Talas River and Issyk-Kul Lake ecoregions, respectively. Some aspects of human impact on native fish populations are analysed, including the introduction and establishment of exotic species that dominate some lakes and reservoirs, fisheries and aquaculture. A review of fishery resources management underlines the need to formulate a compromise strategy for the conservation of unique native fish communities, and the development and management of capture fisheries, based on both native and exotic species, and aquaculture in Kyrgyzstan.
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