Tajikistan: Acute Food Insecurity Situation June 2013
RELEASE DATE
01.06.2013
VALIDITY PERIOD
01.06.2013 > 30.06.2013

Key
results


Recommendations
& next steps


Acute
Malnutrition


The food security situation was analyzed in Tajikistan’s 11 livelihood zones for the period January to May 2013, and a projection was made for the period June to October 2013. The food security status of 3 percent of the population (about 152,000 people) in rural livelihood zones was classified as Phase 3 (Crisis). The status of 39 percent of rural population (about 2,285,000 people) was classified as Phase 2 (Stressed), while the remaining 58 percent (about 3,371,000 people) was classified as Phase 1 (Minimal).

In general, food security was found to have improved since the previous period (October-December 2012), with highly food insecure areas in Phase 3 (Crisis) shifting to moderately food insecure status Phase 2 (Stressed).

The main contributing factors to the improvement were increased remittances, good rainfall in spring and casual labour opportunities. The seasonal availability of pasture has also led to improvement in livestock productivity and value, better food consumption pattern. Seasonally, many alternative sources of food and income became available, which includes labour planting spring crops, labor in construction work, migration, etc. Spring rains in February-March 2013 have been adequate, leading to good prospects for the cereal harvest.

Remittances continued to remain the main source of income for many rural households and play a major role in meeting their daily basic needs. The value of remittances sent to the country from Russia has been increasing since the beginning of the year and according to unofficial sources, in April US$267.6 million were received in Tajikistan, which was 10.9% higher than the same month last year. Remittances have been at record high levels for the past 21 consecutive months.

Despite the overall positive macro-economic developments, food and nutrition insecurity remain concerning challenges among many poor rural Tajiks who struggle to maintain or improve their livelihoods and meet their nutritional needs, but find it difficult due to inadequate access to food, clean water and health services. This was further exacerbated by a number of shocks affecting their livelihoods. High food and fuel prices, heavy rains in a number of districts damaging fruit trees and vegetables, lack of irrigation water, unavailability or high cost of fertilizers were part of the preoccupations met by the vulnerable population. While remittances represent an important contribution to the country´s economic growth, they are also the last resort of poverty-stricken rural families who are unable to survive on other more sustainable livelihoods.

In May, high staple food prices and high fuel costs remained challenging concerns, particularly for the poorest of households who rely on the market for a larger proportion of their needs. Although wheat grain and wheat flour prices stabilized during the first four months of 2013, they still remain high. In April, country-wide, prices for wheat flour were up 31 percent and wheat grain 11 percent compared to same period last year. Prices for locally produced wheat flour increased by 32 percent and meat rose by 10 percent since April 2012. The effect of the increase in prices is particularly hard for the households that are not benefitting from remittances or produce agricultural products and depend mainly on the market to acquire their food needs.

The overall food security situation in most parts of the country is expected to further improve during the next six months (May -October 2013). Food availability and access is anticipated to improve with the winter crop harvest, availability of fruits and vegetables, seasonal remittances, and more income opportunities.

The main factors driving food insecurity are:

  • inadequate access to food, clean water or health services
  • high food and fuel prices
  • heavy rains
  • lack of irrigation water
  • unavailability or high cost of fertilizers


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