CAMP4ASB Helps You Make Your Dreams Come True
The effects of climate change are increasingly affecting agriculture and the well-being of the population. For Tajikistan with a sharply continental and arid climate, where only 7% of the country's territory falls on the valley part, and the rest is occupied by mountains, the issue of timely adaptation is especially relevant in the conditions of modern climatic realities.
The project "Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for the Aral Sea Basin" (CAMP4ASB) of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) provided grants for farmers in Tajikistan living in climate-sensitive regions of the country. We will tell you how they helped to change lives for the better in our stories.
The first story. Rajabmoh Rajabova
CAMP4ASB became a lucky star for a simple villager Rajabmoh Radjabova from the Jirgatal jamoat of the Lyakhsh district, and brought prosperity to her family. A new life began with a small grant received as part of this project.
"To be honest, I didn't decide to apply for a grant right away. I was afraid that my poultry sub-project would be unsuccessful, unpromising or too complicated. But life forced me to move forward. I am a widow with two children. It is hard to feed myself from one garden, and here is such a chance. There is no harm in trying, I thought, and I started to develop a plan to breed turkeys," Rajabmoh said.
According to her plan, the number of poultry, thanks to the optimization of the process, was to increase over time. After the successful selection, Rajabmokh Radjabova used the grant to purchase equipment, materials and feed for turkeys and began realizing her dream. At first, it was too hard, but her confidence was growing every day. She gained experience in breeding and growing poultry. Gradually, Rajabmokh improved her methods, and her farm became more and more successful. Now, there are already 40 turkeys on the farm of Rajabmoh Radjabova, and the livestock has increased and significantly improved the financial situation of the family. Today, she can provide children with additional opportunities for education and development.
"I am grateful to the CAMP4ASB project. This grant has changed my life. I have a stable source of income, I can give my children the best, and I am confident in a good future," says Rajabmokh Rajabova, smiling happily.
Rajabmoh's success has set a good example for other residents of the district, and she is happy to help them with advice and share her experience and knowledge so that they also have sustainable sources of income and life in the village becomes better.
The story of Radjabmokh Radjabova is a vivid example of how support and the opportunity to implement one's ideas can change a person's life for the better.
The second story. Mahmadkarim Salimov
The perseverance of Mahmadkarim Salimov, a resident of the A. Avazov jamoat of the Vose district, and his dedication to the dream bore fruit. Today, he can be proud of the fact that he was one of the first to achieve and implement drip irrigation in his fields. However, this success story has a very long and thorny path.
In the harsh district of Vose, there has always been an acute shortage of water in the jamoat of A. Avazov. He could hardly grow a good crop and support his family. When Mahmadkarim learned about the opportunity to receive a grant for drip irrigation under the CAMP4ASB project, he did not hesitate to apply for the sub-project.
The hilly and desolate terrain, deprived of access to water resources, where Mahmadkarim Salimov decided to implement his project, was another challenge for him, but he did not give up. He wisely used the funds allocated by the grant for the installation of a large water tank, which he fills with water brought at his own expense. This approach allows it to provide sufficient watering.
"It was a difficult path," recalls Mahmadkarim Salimov, "but I never doubted my dream. I wanted to create an oasis on this hill to grow vegetables and fruits that delight the eye with their abundant and juicy fruits."
Mahmadkarim used the grant for drip irrigation so that every drop was beneficial. His project has become more ambitious, and now he dreams of encompassing the entire area of the hill with oases of greenery. Mahmadkarim Salimov works tirelessly to improve his methods to achieve his goal.
"Thank you to the CAMP4ASB project for this grant," says Mahmadkarim Salimov. "Thank you for making my dream come true. Now, I have hope for a better future for my family and our neighborhood.
"Over time, Mahmadkarim Salimov's vegetable gardens have turned into a green paradise for the eyes, and he can already exhibit his vegetables and fruits for sale at the local market. His family's well-being is growing, and life in the neighborhood is improving.
His success did not go unnoticed in the area. He has become an example for other residents and heartily helps them with advice, kind words and deeds.
Mahmadkarim Salimov is an example of how courage, perseverance and support from the project can overcome any difficulties and change a person's life for the better.
Third story. Bibiniso Saidova
The success story of Bibiniso Saidova, a resident of the Lyakhshi bolo jamoat of the Lyakhsh district, is a story of perseverance and devotion to the dream. Bibiniso has always wanted to be engaged in beekeeping and knew very well that in this way she would also contribute to the fight against climate change in the Aral Sea basin. A grant within the framework of the project "Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for the Aral Sea Basin CAMP4ASB", which Bibiniso received for the implementation of her beekeeping sub-project, is in high demand in the Lyakhsh district in the Lyakhshi bolo jamoat, where she lives.
It's no secret that bees are significant for the preservation of biodiversity and the balance of the ecosystem. Thanks to pollination by bees, many fruit, vegetable and wild plants yield crops. It increases harvest and preserves the number of wild plants. In addition, bees maintain a balance between the different plant species in the ecosystem. With the decrease in bee populations, agricultural yields suffer, and the number of wild flowering plants decreases due to insufficient pollination. Bibiniso Saidova's sub-project is aimed specifically at preserving and increasing the number of bees, which will increase crop yields and contribute to strengthening local environmental sustainability. A young, ambitious and determined girl wanted to show and showed in practice how beekeeping has a positive impact on the environment and heals it.
"Our family has been involved in beekeeping for generations, and this grant has given us a chance to expand our business and make it more sustainable," says Bibiniso Saidova with gratitude.
"Every day, we see the hard work of our bees in pollinating plants in gardens and vegetable gardens. We feel that our work matters and this inspires us to continue," Bibiniso Saidova emphasizes.
Its sub-project also contributes to climate change mitigation. After all, bees contribute to an increase in yields and the growth of green spaces. Without pollination, the yield of cultivated plants (berries, fruits, vegetables, nuts) decreases, posing a threat to food security. Bees help to enhance fruit harvesting and improve the quality of crops. Bee-pollinated plants are usually larger and heavier, as well as more evenly developed fruits. In addition, bees influence the increase in sugar and vitamin content in fruits, making them more nutritious and tastier. It is very important for the production of high-quality food.
Now, as the first harvest approaches, Bibiniso Saidova and her family feel proud of their work and express their deep gratitude to the CAMP4ASB project for its support. They are ready not only to continue their activities but also to expand their beekeeping to make an even greater contribution to the fight against the effects of climate change.
Background:
In 2020, the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) received additional funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to continue the work started in 2015 to provide climate investments in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan within the framework of the Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Programme for the Aral Sea Basin Additional Financing (CAMP4ASB AF). CAREC is implementing the CAMP4ASB AF project together with EC IFAS with the financial support of the World Bank and the Green Climate Fund.CAMP4ASB has provided grants to farmers in Tajikistan living in climate-vulnerable regions of the country. To date, 38,300 people have been reached in Tajikistan, of which 50% are women. The total area of the sub-projects was 13,200 hectares, and more than 19,000 jobs were created.