On a crisp morning in Kushoniyon, 5 km from Tajikistan’s southern central city of Bokhtar, accountant-turned-farmer Saidjalol gazes proudly at his brand new greenhouse, the sunlight casting a hopeful glow over the vibrant green plants inside. For Saidjalol and many others like him, this greenhouse is more than just a structure—it’s a symbol of a change in life that offers a different future, a future with hope.
Saidjalol leased his greenhouse from the Imon Fund, a microcredit organization. He believes he will pay it back in full in just one year. His accounting background helps him calculate, “I got this large 20x6x4m greenhouse for about $7,000 in February 2024. I planted about 500 tomato saplings. Each sapling is expected to yield about 20 kg. If I sell each kilo of tomato for about $1, that’s $10,000 from just the first yield.”
From North to South
Saidjalol’s dreams became a reality because of the expansion of the Imon Fund into southern Tajikistan. The ACDI/VOCA-implemented Market Driven Rural Development Activity (MDRD)[1] Activity is one of two USAID-funded projects to team up with the Imon Fund to accelerate and transform farming in the less-developed southern regions of Tajikistan. The Imon Fund, born of international support, is based in Sughd in northern Tajikistan, the more industrially developed part of the country. Although it has immense expertise serving farmers and agribusinesses in the north, expansion into the south only became possible through this USAID-supported initiative of MDRD. The Imon Fund opened an office in the south, allowing the transfer of years of expertise to the region. It began providing incentives for increased sales to farming households and crucial support to the hardworking farmers of Khatlon.
Khatlon province has a vibrant, densely packed rural population of about four million and is now on the brink of an agricultural renaissance. The partnership between MDRD and the Imon Fund is a beacon of hope, providing smallholder farmers with financial loans and innovative high-quality greenhouses, aimed to empower farmers and enhance their livelihoods.
The impact of this initiative is already visible, and the results are inspiring. In less than a year, more than 70 greenhouses of different scales and volumes have been leased or sold, a quarter of which to female farmers, bringing modern farming techniques to the doorsteps of many families for the first time.
“The partnership with USAID has been a game-changer,” Guljahon Kabutova, Head of the Imon Fund office in Khatlon, says proudly as she guides us to the next client’s yard, where the leased greenhouse stands. “We’re here to give people the tools, knowledge, and support they need to succeed.”
Life-Changing Stories from the Fields
Normurod from Khuroson is a former police officer. His sons are seasonal labor migrants in Russia, where earning money has become more difficult since the start of the war in Ukraine. His yard has always been the backbone for the family’s food and a small additional income, but the harsh climate often ruined his crops, leaving his family in uncertainty. But now, Normurod stands tall and proud, his greenhouse flourishing with fresh cucumbers and bell peppers. “This is my first greenhouse,” he says. “This was not an easy decision to get a leased greenhouse from a bank, but I took the risk, and I will hard work to grow crops all year round and provide better for my family.”
Another farmer is Saodat. In addition to her main job as a cleaner at a local hospital, she is an experienced yard farmer. She compares her new greenhouse with her old, amateur-constructed one, and counts the advantages: “It’s sturdier, maintains a consistent temperature, and uses water more efficiently. Plus, the design allows for better airflow and sunlight, which means my tomatoes are growing healthier and faster than ever before.”
With the money she earns from the plot, Saodat spends on herself and her daughters, no longer needing to ask the men at home for money. She even convinced her brother, Rustam, a high school history teacher who lives in a neighboring village to get a greenhouse, too. “My daughter-in-law mostly takes care of the yard,” he says, smiling at his grandchildren. “I teach her how to work. Already in the first month we sold cucumbers for about $5 a day. This is a good support.”
A Boost for the Rural Economy
Leasing affordable and quality greenhouses to smallholder farmers is a lifeline. With high-quality construction materials, which are not easy to find on the local market, these greenhouses offer a controlled environment, ensuring better crop yields and more reliable food production. For many families, this means not just food on the table but also a small, steady income.
“Providing these greenhouses is about more than just farming,” says Mohammad Shahroz Jalil, MDRD Chief of Party in Tajikistan, his voice filled with passion. “It’s about empowering farmers, creating jobs for rural women, and transforming the agricultural landscape of southern Tajikistan.”
The ripple effect of this initiative extends beyond the fields. By boosting agricultural productivity, it creates jobs and sparks economic growth, breathing new life into rural communities. This is especially significant for rural women, who often bear the brunt of farming tasks but rarely receive the support they need.
Southern Tajikistan has always been the agricultural heartland of the country. Bringing modern solutions to this region is not just important—it’s essential. The success of these initial efforts has laid a robust foundation for the future, and all involved parties are filled with optimism and determination.
“We are just getting started,” the Imon Fund’s Guljahon says, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. “There is so much potential here, and we are thrilled to be part of this journey towards a brighter future for the farmers, their families, and their communities.”
[1] The other USAID Activity was the Agriculture, Land and Governance (ALG)
Learn more about the Market Driven Rural Development Activity.
Learn more about our work in Tajikistan.
