POTATO PRODUCTION SUPPORT AND RESEARCH TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY IN KHATLON, —PHASE II

Final Technical Report 1 October 2016–30 September 2019

POTATO PRODUCTION SUPPORT AND RESEARCH TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY IN KHATLON, TAJIKISTAN— Phase II

FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT 1 October 2016–30 September 2019

24 December 2019

DISCLAIMER This project was made possible through support provided by Feed the Future through the U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Contract No. 14/ID: 1292-USAID. The opinions expressed herein are those of the International Potato Center and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Contract No.: 14/ID: 1292-USAID Principal Author: Rusudan Mdivani Project Name: Feed the Future Tajikistan: Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Reporting Period: 1 October 2016–30 September 2019 Funding Amount: $389,504 Project Duration: 3 years

Contact Information International Potato Center–Central Asia and the Caucuses 6 Marshal Gelovani Ave. 0159 Tbilisi, Georgia +995 5 99 199 728 https://pspsr.cipotato.org/

CONTENTS

1. OVERVIEW ...... 1

1.1 PROJECT OBJECTIVES ...... 1 1.2 PROJECT PARTNERS ...... 1 1.3 PROJECT COMPONENTS ...... 1 1.4 PROJECT ACTIVITIES ...... 1 1.5 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS ACCORDING TO ACTIVITIES ...... 2 1.5.1 OFSP ...... 2 1.5.2 Potato ...... 3 1.5.3 Storage ...... 3 1.5.4 Trainings and events ...... 3 1.5.5 New varieties ...... 4 1.5.6 Promotion...... 4 2. IMPROVED POTATO AND SWEETPOTATO PRODUCTION ...... 4

2.1 INTRODUCING BETA-CAROTENE–RICH SWEETPOTATO CLONES ...... 4 2.1.1 Impact of CIP’s OFSP ...... 8 2.2 INCREASING EFFICIENCY OF POTATO PRODUCTION ...... 9 2.2.1 Potato production from newly harvested seeds in second season ...... 10 2.2.2 Early potato production ...... 12 2.2.3 Impact of CIP varieties and CIP technologies ...... 14 3. CAPACITY BUILDING ...... 14

3.1 WORKSHOPS ...... 14 3.2 FESTIVAL CELEBRATES OFSP ...... 15 3.2 SCHOOLCHILDREN LEARN ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SWEETPOTATO ...... 15 3.3 COOKING QUALITY TESTING ...... 16 3.4 TRAINING FARMERS ...... 17 3.5 SUCCESS STORY ...... 19 4. PARTNERS AND COLLABORATION ...... 20

4.1 UCA ...... 20 4.2 IBPPG ...... 20 4.3 OTHER PARTNERS—CHEMONICS (TAWA) AND INTRAHEALTH (THAN) ...... 20 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN ...... 20 6. PROJECT BUDGET ...... 22 7. LESSONS LEARNED ...... 22 ANNEXES ...... 24

ANNEX 1: SWEETPOTATO HORNWORM ...... 24 ANNEX 2: CIP CLONES SELECTED FOR REGISTRATION ...... 25

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report i List of Photos Photo 1. OFSP germplasm, and two OFSP varieties, introduced into Tajikistan...... 4 Photo 2. OFSP roots producing vines at IBPPG...... 5 Photo 3. An OFSP farmer field nursery, Khatlon...... 6 Photo 4. OFSP vine production farm, Khatlon...... 6 Photo 5. One of the 34 OFSP production farms established in Khatlon province...... 6 Photo 6. OFSP nutritious gardens in schools, Khatlon...... 7 Photo 7. CIP-720189 (Pukara-Inia) ‘Surkhob’...... 9 Photo 8. CIP-720148 ‘Durakshon’...... 9 Photo 9. Insect-proof nets installed on potato yield...... 11 Photo 10. Potato field after frost...... 11 Photo 11. Early potato production farmer in Khatlon...... 12 Photo 12. Early potato harvest, Khatlon...... 12 Photo 13. Early potato planting in Vakhsh and, bottom right, CoolBot...... 13 Photo 14. Early potato under plastic film, Khatlon...... 13 Photo 15. CoolBot, Khatlon...... 14 Photo 16. Workshop, ...... 15 Photo 17. OFSP Festival in Dushanbe...... 15 Photo 18. OFSP harvest in a nutrition garden at school #11 in Vakhsh...... 15 Photo 19. Sweetpotato illustration at school #11 in Vakhsh...... 16 Photo 20. Sweetpotato tasting at school #11 in Vakhsh...... 16 Photo 21. OFSP cooking quality test...... 16 Photo 22. OFSP clones underwent a cooking-quality test...... 16 Photo 23. Participants at the sweetpotato training sessions...... 17 Photo 24. Field days conducted for potato in November...... 18 List of Figures Figure 1. OFSP nutritious crop as new economic opportunity for Tajikistan...... 8 Figure 2. Comparison of CIP clones with control variety ‘Aladdin’...... 10 Figure 3. CIP varieties (left) and CIP technologies (right)...... 14 Figure 4. Organizational chart for the “Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II.” ...... 21

I

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report ii ACRONYMS

CIP International Potato Center

IBPPG Institute of Botany, Plant Physiology and Genetics of the Tajik Academy of Sciences NARS National agricultural research systems OFSP Orange-fleshed sweetpotato

SCVTVP State Committee for Variety Testing and Variety Protection SUPW Socially Useful Productive Work for Youth TAWA Tajikistan Agricultural Water Activity

THNA Tajikistan Health and Nutrition Activity ToT Training of trainers UCA University of Central Asia USAID United States Agency for International Development

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report iii 1. OVERVIEW

1.1 Project Objectives This report summarizes the technical progress of implementing the Potato Production Support and Research to Improve Food Security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II project, under Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and poverty initiative. This 3-year project (1 Oct. 2016–30 Sept. 2019) was executed by the International Potato Center (CIP) and implemented through partners in Tajikistan. The project, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Tajikistan Mission had two primary objectives: (1) to address dietary deficiencies and increase potato productivity, stability, and competitiveness and (2) to improve household incomes of resource-poor farmers in water stress-prone areas of West Khatlon. Potatoes and orange-fleshed sweetpotatoes (OFSP) were identified as potential high-value crops that could help reduce poverty and malnutrition in the country. Because OFSP is rich in vitamin A and newly bred varieties of potatoes are rich in iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), these crops can help to diversify diets and address the problem of child malnutrition, which is prevalent in Tajikistan. In Tajikistan, 10.4% of the population lives on less than $1.25 a day, and many women and children are undernourished. Common dietary deficiencies in important nutrients, including vitamin A, Fe, Zn, iodine, and animal protein, has led to nearly 30% stunting and 7% wasting among children younger than 24 months. Phase II of the project aimed to increase the production and consumption of improved vegetables high in vitamin A, Fe, and/or Zn in the Feed the Future zones of influence—12 districts in Khatlon Province—by introducing new crops, new varieties, and technologies and training local farmers and their families to use them. These technologies included the introduction of OFSP varieties, the production of early-bulking potato varieties, breaking dormancy of newly harvested potatoes for planting in the second growing season, and using insect-proof nets to protect potato plants from aphids, white flies, and other insects.

1.2 Project Partners • University of Central Asia (UCA) • The Institute of Botany, Plant Physiology and Genetics of the Tajik Academy of Sciences (IBPPG)—a national agricultural research system (NARS) partner • Chemonics: Tajikistan Agricultural Water Activity (TAWA)—a USAID-supported project • IntraHealth: Tajikistan Health and Nutrition Activity (THNA)—a USAID-supported project

1.3 Project Components • Introduce beta-carotene–rich sweetpotato varieties and develop appropriate production technologies • Increase the efficiency of potato production through the introduction and dissemination of (1) drought- tolerant and day-neutral varieties of potato suitable to local conditions; (2) new, cost-effective farming technologies; and (3) improved on-farm management practices for smallholders • Build capacity of researchers, advisors, farmers, and local research entities, including IBPPG

1.4 Project Activities Notable achievements over the project’s 3-year lifespan include the following:

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 1 • Actively involved NARS (IBPPG), the TAWA and THNA projects, and all stakeholders of the potato production sector in nutrition activities. Supported NARS in the production of potato and sweetpotato initial planting/seed materials: (1) in vitro multiplication and adaptation under greenhouse condition; (2) trained researchers, advisors of TAWA agricultural staff, other local agriculture extension specialists, and farmers in sweetpotato production; and (3) conducted training of trainers (ToT). • Introduced CIP OFSP varieties and tested and recommended the best selected varieties for registration in Tajikistan. Established OFSP nursery demo plots by introducing OFSP seedling production, rapid multiplication, and fertilization. Demonstrated potato and OFSP production, multiplication, and storage in order to improve farmer-based seed system. • Established demo plots (252 m2) in second growing season for comparing a commercial variety with CIP varieties. Demonstrated pre-sprouting techniques, artificially breaking dormancy, and a technique of potato production in high tunnels (70–80 cm) covered with insect-proof nets. Provided local consultation for integrated pest management. • Developed a technical guide for growing potato and sweetpotato in the , based on the observation of demo plots. Prepared booklets and other suitable materials for training as well as protocols for producing potato and sweetpotato seeds and seedlings. • Organized a workshop on project progress and cooking-quality testing event for project donor, partners, and stakeholders. • Produced in vitro promising sweetpotato and potato clones as well as adaptation under greenhouse condition of such clones and production of seeds/seedlings. • Established four nurseries of sweetpotato demo plots, thereby introducing sweetpotato as a new crop, seedling production, rapid multiplication, and fertilization. • Organized up to 12 small demo plots of sweetpotato production and tested those varieties for yield capacity and suitability for local conditions. • Set up early potato production under low-tunnel demo plots in order to multiply, test, and select promising CIP clones. • Developed promotional materials (e.g., brochures) for sweetpotato and promoted it in schools by establishing small demo plots at school and including sweetpotato in children’s lunches.

1.5 Project Highlights According to Activities 1.5.1 OFSP • Fifteen OFSP CIP varieties were introduced in Tajikistan. In addition to its nutritious purpose for Tajikistan, OFSP became a profitable crop for smallholders in Khatlon province. OFSP varieties CIP- 105085.2 (‘Somoni’) and CIP-106603.1 (‘Shokhin’) were particularly high yielding: 70–80 t/ha. • A total of 2.54 ha have been covered under new crop (OFSP). Seventy-six tons of sweetpotato roots from 15 CIP clones were harvested on 34 demo plots at farmers’ farms and on two schools’ nutrition gardens in Khatlon province. The average sale price was 4–5 somoni/kg. Accordingly, farmers’ income was 350,000 somoni ($38,000) from sales of OFSP. • Five OFSP vine production farms were established with a capacity of 100,000 seedlings/year. • Fourteen OFSP nurseries were established on up to 2 ha at farmers’ farms in Khatlon with a capacity of 3m seedlings/vines/year.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 2 • Five partnerships with buyers (e.g., supermarkets Ashan and Paykar, hotels Hayat Regency and Hilton, the UCA campus) were created. • One public-private partnership created between IBBP and farmers’ informal association. • OFSP nutritious gardens established at nine school plots in the districts of Kushoniyon, А. Jomi, Levakand, , Jaykhun, , Vakhsh, and А. Balkhi. Promotional activities were also introduced at these plots, including cooking-quality tests. Introduced Socially Useful Productive Work for Youth (SUPW) in schools and promoted youth involvement in the OFSP sector. • Promoted gender and youth inclusion. Because OFSP production does not normally involve a lot of heavy work, mostly women and youth were engaged in OFSP vine (seedling) production (OFSP vine production is the basis of OFSP production). Accordingly, the scaling up of OFSP production will ensure sustainable incomes for women and youth. Some one-third of beneficiary farmers/producers and one- half of participants in trainings were women. • Fifteen OFSP farmers in Vakhsh and Yavan districts were provided with certificates from the Department of Phytosanitary and Seed Certification of the Food Safety Committee.

1.5.2 Potato Six CIP potato clones—CIP-396311.1, CIP-720090, CIP-394034.7, CIP-397077.16 (‘Faizabad’), CIP- 720189 (‘Surkhob’), and CIP-392797.22 (‘Tojikiston’)—tolerant to heat, drought, and viruses were introduced into smallholder farms of Khatlon province. Commercialization of CIP potato varieties and innovative technologies (early potato production and potato production on second season) resulted in net return from potato of $12,421/ha (626 times more than net return from locally used varieties). Comparing net returns of potato fields managed with CIP technologies and traditional potato-growing methods, CIP technology provided double-cropping and amounted to $17,578/ha, or 764 times more than the net return from fields using traditional methods.

Potato in second season • Seven tons of potatoes were harvested on 21 demo plots of potato, grown during the second season in the villages of Vakhsh, Bokhtar, and Yavon during 2017–2018. Productivity of locally used commercial variety ‘Aladdin’ was four times less than the yield from CIP clones. Early potato • Eigth demo farms of early potato production were established in Khatlon at smallholder farmers’ farms. Emergence rates of at least 92–98% were observed in March. Some 36 t of potatoes were harvested on 12,000 m2 of eight farmers’ farms 17 days earlier than regular potato production fields. Productivity of CIP varieties averaged 31.1 t/ha, with highest productivity at 34.5 t/ha. Farmers’ income from growing CIP varieties increased by an average of $20,000.

1.5.3 Storage • Three CoolBots (19.25 m2) for future storage of potato and sweetpotato roots were installed at farms in Vakhsh, Yavon, and Bokhtar districts. The modern cold storage introduced was simple and cost-effective to establish and use.

1.5.4 Trainings and events • Three workshops were organized for stakeholders in Dushanbe; 84 participants were informed of project results and future plans.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 3 • A sweetpotato festival was organized for 31 participants. • Two trainings were organized for 47 school students to promote OFSP. • Three cooking-quality tests were organized. • Seven trainings were attended by 144 farmers. • Twenty field days were organized for 544 farmers.

1.5.5 New varieties Two CIP OFSP clones (CIP-105085.2 and CIP-440136) were selected and recommended for registration to the State Committee for Variety Testing and Variety Protection (SCVTVP). The clones’ registration were processed: one clone was registed in 2019 and another will be registered in 2020. CIP supported the committeee in adapting the existing standard OFSP registration form. Seedlings of CIP clones were tested in four districts at SCVTVP’s regional stations.

1.5.6 Promotion • A project web page has been created https://pspsr.cipotato.org/. • Guidelines for farmers on OFSP production were developed, published, and distributed. • A brochure on potato and OFSP facts was developed, published, and distributed. • A collection of OFSP recipes were developed and published in the Tajik language. The booklet will be used at schools and in supermarkets, where it will be distributed to buyers for promotion of OFSP. • A promotion video, instructional film, and animation were developed.

2. IMPROVED POTATO AND SWEETPOTATO PRODUCTION

2.1 Introducing Beta-Carotene–Rich Sweetpotato Clones In 2016, 18 new OFSP clones from CIP’s Lima headquarters were selected for introduction into Tajikistan (Photo 1, Table 1) and for further multiplication in nurseries. Selected varieties (germplasm) were transferred to NARS–IBPPG through Standard Material Transfer Agreement in 2017. Rapid multiplication of sweetpotato was conducted at NARS station in Dushanbe under in vitro laboratory and greenhouse condition during 2017–2019.

Photo 1. OFSP germplasm, and two OFSP varieties, introduced into Tajikistan.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 4 Table 1. Sweetpotato germplasm, selected for Tajikistan # Entry Accession Name # Entry Accession Name 1 CIP-187016.2 Costanero 10 CIP 199062.1 2 CIP-187018.1 Yarada 11 CIP 420014 Jonathan 3 CIP-187019.1 Tacna 12 CIP 192033.5 4 CIP-187020.1 Atacama 13 CIP 106861.3 5 CIP-105086.1 INIA 308; Arne 14 CIP 106090.1 6 CIP-105085.2 INIA 307; Benjamin 15 CIP 106603.1 7 CIP-440001 Resisto 16 CIP 189151.8 8 CIP-440132 Beauregard 17 CIP 189151.34 9 CIP-440136 Caromex 18 CIP 440280 85002-103

All of these 18 OFSP clones have medium to high dry matter and are high in vitamins C, E, and A, which is rich in beta-carotene (the beta-carotene content is expected to be more than 8 mg/100 g fresh weight). The clones are described as high yielding and in acceptable conditions. Necessary recommended practices will be adopted to establish these clones through micropropagation and multiplication. The desired shape of the sweetpotato roots from the clones is long and oblong—a shape that could help improve processing and harvesting. The clones, listed in Table 1, are expected to meet the requirements of farmers and interested sweetpotato growers for generating income and improving nutrition. An OFSP nursery was established at IBPPG’s experimental station, where OFSP vines were produced. OFSP clones were multiplied using the in vitro multiplication method. The plantlets were then adapted to greenhouse conditions in order to produce high-quality sweetpotato planting material for farmers’ use in the Khatlon region. Sweetpotato plants, multiplied in vitro in the laboratory, were transplanted into cups with a special substrate of organic soil for adaptation under greenhouse conditions. Stem cuttings obtained from apical part of the stem were planted in containers that had a substrate of two parts moss, one part agricultural soil, and half part washed sand. Fertilizer (12 N-12 P2O5-12 K2O) was applied in a dose of 5 g/L to maintain soil fertility. Plants were rapidly multiplied under greenhouse conditions and, after 3–4 weeks, transplanted to on-farm nurseries; an existing greenhouse at IBPPG was reconstructed (Photo 2). CIP provided IBPPG with protocols and guidelines it had developed and adapted for Tajikistan conditions on production of OFSP cuttings, establishing a nursery, harvesting, postharvest handling, and root storage during winter. Photo 2. OFSP roots producing vines at IBPPG. Research into biochemical indicators of salt (NaCl) and drought-stress tolerance has continued, and resistance to NaCl was confirmed on several OFSP clones. Different levels of anthocyanin (main component in plant adaptation under abiotic stress) were defined in different contrast genotypes. Content of malonic dialdehyde, a product formed during oxidation of lipids at stress, was also determined in OFSP clones. In sweetpotato leaves indicators of ascorbic acid were defined and distinctions according to their contents were found in genotypes and contrasted in stability. Tests also revealed that contrast genotypes differed in activity of antioxidant enzymes. The obtained data are being processed as part of three PhD theses at IBPPG (see, for example, “Biochemical Indicators of Multi-tolerant Potato Genotypes under Exposure to Stressors,” by Norkulov Nasim, a PhD candidate of biological sciences, 3.1.4/Tajik National University, Dushanbe 2017).

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 5 Project beneficiary farmers were selected based on CIP- developed selection criteria, together with partners of the TAWA and THNA projects, to establish sweetpotato nurseries and production farms in Khatlon province. Farmers were selected to multiply the vines in nurseries designated as “OFSP farmer field nurseries” and “OFSP farmer field farms,” and plants from IBPPG were planted at these sites. Fourteen OFSP nurseries were established on up to 2 ha at farms in Khatlon (Photo 3). Storage roots harvested at the nurseries were stored in a CoolBot for replanting in spring to establish OFSP farms. Photo 3. An OFSP farmer field nursery, Khatlon. Sweetpotato farmers created an informal association for better management of sweetpotato production and obtaining resources. Five greenhouses—three 143 m2 (22 x 6.5 m) and two 200 m2 (8 x 25 m)—were built on five OFSP vine production farms to establish capacity of producing 80,000 vines each in the villages of Vakhsh, Bokhtar, and Yavon. OFSP vines produced during the implementation of the project were distributed free of charge to 34 selected farmers so that hey could establish OFSP production farms. (Production of 400,000 OFSP vines for sale will be available from 2020 onwards.) An income from OFSP production under greenhouses will be shared among all beneficiary farmers based on agreement with OFSP vine production farms (Photo 4).

Photo 4. OFSP vine production farm, Khatlon.

Produced vine cuttings were rooted in pots under greenhouse conditions and transplanted in open fields on 34 demo plots on a total of 2.5 ha. OFSP production farms at 34 smallholder farms were established in 2017–2019 in Khatlon province (Photo 5), which harvested 75.7 t of OFSP. Sale price of OFSP varied 4–10 somoni/kg. Farmers’ income from the sales of OFSP averaged 500,000 somoni ($55,000), which provides an average income of $25–30/kg.

Photo 5. One of the 34 OFSP production farms established in Kha tlon province.

In the middle of July 2018, a new pest, the sweetpotato hornworm Agrius convolvuli (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), appeared at the plots of CIP OFSP clones. The pest damaged and ate the leaves at night (see Annex 1 for more details).

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 6 The two best OFSP clones (CIP-105085.2 and CIP-44013.6) were selected and processed for variety release by the SCVTVP and tested by the Plant Certification Agency that provide certificates for OFSP produced on farmers’ fields. The certified OFSP from project beneficiaries’ farms can be sold at big supermarket chains in Dushanbe. Agency representatives inspected all OFSP fields at project beneficiary farms several times during the vegetation period. (Sweetpotato is a new crop for Tajikistan, so CIP helped the commission adapt the existing standard registration form. According to the SCVTVP, a new variety should be tested in four different regions on specialized regional stations in Kubodien, Regar, Vakhsh, and Kyl’ab.) Annex 2 describes these two selected clones in more detail. The biggest supermarket chains in Dushanbe, Ashan and Paykar, the UCA campus, and Hilton and Hyatt Regency hotels expressed great interest in buying sweetpotato and potato from project beneficiaries. The project team, together with beneficiary farmers, collected the documents requested by supermarket management (e.g., tax certificates and registration, copy of sellers’ passport, bank account details, and phytosanitary certificate). After submitting these documents, Ashan signed a contract with farmers on supply of potato and sweetpotato starting in 2019. As a result of USG assistance, public-private partnerships were formed between OFSP farmers’ informal association and IBPPG on production/supply of initial planting materials of OFSP. Nutritious OFSP gardens were established at nine schools in the districts of Kushoniyon, А. Jomi, Levakand, Dusti, Jaykhun, Qubodiyon, Vakhsh, and А. Balkhi. CIP distributed more than 6,000 sweetpotato cuttings to THNA for 1,500 m2. CIP introduced SUPW—for example, OFSP growing, harvesting, and testing—at all nine schools (Photo group 6).

Photo 6. OFSP nutritious gardens in schools, Khatlon.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 7 2.1.1 Impact of CIP’s OFSP • Farmers’ and advisors’ capacity-building and promotional activities (behavior change) at schools resulted in promotion of OFSP as a nutritional crop. With the introduction of modern technologies and regular trainings and technical support, beneficiary-farmers produced sweetpotato very successfully. OFSP became more popular and farmers increased production area under OFSP from 1,000 m2 to 2.5 ha in 1 year. Average yields obtained were 40–70 t/ha, with a potential yield of 80 t/ha. • OFSP provides a double impact for Tajikistan: the nutritious crop became profitable for smallholders in Khatlon province (with average income $25–30,000/ha). High-yielding (70–80 t/ha) CIP OFSP varieties ‘Somoni’ and ‘Shokhin’ were established on 34 OFSP production plots, 14 nurseries, and five vine production farms with full infrastructure (greenhouse for vine production, CoolBot for planting materials’ storage, production plots). For OFSP vine (seedling) production, 15 quality certificates for produced OFSP were provided and five partnerships with buyers were created (supermarkets Ashan and Paykar, hotels Hyatt Regency and Hilton, UCA campus). This effort will help ensure sustainable scaling up of OFSP production and its commercialization in Khatlon and lead to sustainable increase of farmers’ income in the region. • Mostly women and youth were involved in the production of OFSP vines (seedlings)—a woman- and youth-friendly crop. The scaling-up of OFSP production will help ensure sustainable incomes for women and youth. • OFSP was easily and adopted very well in the agro-climate conditions of Tajikistan. OFSP is a climate- resilient crop, providing food in conditions (drought, heat, salinity) where other agricultural crops have a problem of growing. OFSP has the potential to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change on small and medium farms. Central Asia is currently one of the world’s most vulnerable regions with regard to global warming (temperatures are predicted to rise by 1°C in the next 35 years), and which is predicted to have devastating impact on current wheat varieties. OFSP provides a new opportunity to support climate-resilient agricultural intensification in Tajikistan and Central Asia; correct dietary deficiencies; increase productivity; and improve stability, competitiveness, and family income of resource-poor farmers in water stress-prone areas in the region. • OFSP, introduced as a nutritious crop to address the malnutrition problem in Tajikistan, has provided an additional benefit for project farmers (Fig. 1). Because OFSP is cost effective, climate-resilient, and introduced production technologies affordable to further scaling up, OFSP farmers should cooperate in production and processing, which will result in the sustainable increase in their incomes and improve the country’s food quality.

Figure 1. OFSP nutritious crop as new economic opportunity for Tajikistan.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 8 Chalenges. The novelty of sweetpotato as a new crop in Tajikistan—and the local population is not familiar with it—creates a problem in selling it on the fresh market. Small farmers cannot alone sustainably supply big supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, and the like because their plots are small and separated. Farmers should therefore create associations and/or cooperatives to manage production and sales of sweetpotato jointly, which would help ensure regular quality and quantity of sweetpotato supply on the local market. This is an additional obstacle in association of farmers. Accordingly, additional work should be done to improve farmers’ skills in business management and cooperation; it too will help ensure product quality and sustainable supply of OFSP to big supermarkets and hotels. Cooperation in the production and market chain is the most suitable way to make sure that the produce from farmers is highly marketable to supermarket chains.

2.2 Increasing Efficiency of Potato Production To increase efficiency of potato production in Tajikistan, CIP CIP potato clones released in Tajikistan: introduced varieties that are high yielding, Fe and Zn enriched, day neutral, and tolerant to biotic (diseases) and abiotic (heat/drought) • ‘Dusti’ (CIP-998010) • ‘Fayzobod’ (CIP-397077.16) stress (see Box). CIP also introduced modern agricultural • ‘Tajikiston’ (CIP-392797.22) technologies, such as potato production from newly harvested • ‘Rasht’ (CIP-303414.108) seeds in second season (August–November) and early potato • ‘AN 1’ (CIP-392780.1) production (December–May). • ‘Durakhshon’ (CIP-720148) Two CIP clones were released during project implementation: CIP- • ‘Surkhob’ (CIP-720189) 720189 (Pukara-Inia) ‘Surkhob’ and CIP-720148 (‘Durakhshon’) (Photos 7 and 8). Photo 7. CIP-720189 (Pukara-Inia) ‘Surkhob’.

Six potato clones—CIP-396311.1, CIP-720090, CIP-394034.7, CIP- 397077.16 (‘Faizabad’), CIP-720189 (‘Surkhob’), and CIP-392797.22 (‘Tojikiston’)—tolerant to heat, drought, and viruses were selected for introduction into smallholder farms. Potatoes were multiplied at IBPPG under sterile conditions using M&S media (containing sucrose: 20 g/L; agar: 6.0 g/L; vitamins; IAA: 1.0 mg/L; pH of media: 5.7–5.8; Murashige and Skoog 1962). Tubes of 15 х 160 mm filled with 12–14 mL of nutrient media and closed by cotton wool and gauze were used for the propagation after proper sterilization in the autoclave at 1.5 Photo 8. CIP-720148 ‘Durakshon’. atmospheres for 45 min. In vitro plants were kept under controlled conditions at 22–23°С, 3000–3500 lux for 4–5 weeks and photoperiod of 16/8 hr (day/night). In vitro plants of potato were regularly tested for the occurrence of viruses using the

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 9 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test to ensure that plants are virus free. IBPPG’s regional station transplanted the in vitro plants (minitubers) into open fields to produce commercial seed potato in Lyakhshsky region (Jirgatol). Visual observations of crops of potatoes revealed no symptoms of viruses or other diseases. Nevertheless, potato plants were tested for potato virus X, Y, and M in a phase of intensive blossoming. Work using the IFA sets received followed CIP protocols and guidelines provided by CIP.

2.2.1 Potato production from newly harvested seeds in second season To provide “double-income” for potato farmers, CIP introduced a technique for artificially breaking seed dormancy. This technique enabled the newly harvested potato to be used as seed in same year for the second growing season, providing double-cropping in 1 year. Harvest of the first cropping season began in July, and treated potato seed used for the second season in Khatlon, with planting in August. The freshly harvested potatoes were subsequently pretreated with gibberellin and thiourea to regulate growth and influence development, including sprouting and stem elongation. They were placed in the cooling chamber/germination room (CoolBot), where they were stored for at least 10 days at +5°C to break their dormancy. Twenty-one demo plots for potato production during a second growing season were established in Khatlon province in 2017 and 2018; 7 t of potato were harvested. The local commercial variety ‘Aladdin’ was planted as a control to demonstrate advantages of CIP clones over locally used varieties (Fig. 2). On the basis of an analysis of potato yield data, almost all four farms preferred clone CIP-720090, with average yield of 12.53 t/ha and highest yield of 17.37 t/ha. This CIP clone is 43.72% more productive than ‘Aladdin’, with an average yield of 8.72 t/ha. It represents a boost in income by almost 40–50% (27,000 TJS/ha, or $3,200/ha) for farmers. Productivity of the other two CIP clones also was better (9–10 t/ha) than the local commercial variety. The yields of CIP clones were better because of their resistance to abiotic and biotic factors (i.e., heat, drought, and pests). The results were more evident in the second growing season, when weather was much warmer (43°C)—normal condition for potato growth is 25–27°C and for tuberization 18°C is needed—and the distribution of pests is at its peak. Commercial varieties did not tolerate those biotic and abiotic factors as well and are much more affected than the resilient CIP varieties.

Figure 2. Comparison of CIP clones with control variety ‘Aladdin’.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 10 To evaluate the harm caused by pests on potato yield in Khatlon, high net tunnels (Photo 9) were installed on two beneficiaries’ farms. Potato production demo plots were partly covered with insect-proof nets to protect potato from pests in the districts of Vakhsh and Bokhtar. Six advanced clones—CIP-396311.1, CIP-720090, CIP-394034.7, CIP-397077.16 (‘Faizabad’), CIP-720189 (‘Surkhob’), and CIP-392797.22 (‘Tojikiston’)—were planted and the local commercial variety ‘Aladdin’ was used as a control. On the basis of the data analyzed, it is evident that ‘Aladdin’ had a better yield in protected than in unprotected fields in both districts, thus confirming its susceptibility to pests. At the same time, yields of CIP varieties on protected and unprotected fields are more or less the same (probably because they are resistant to viruses). Tolerance to abiotic (heat, drought) and biotic (pests, diseases) factors is a very important characteristic for potato varieties, as both factors damage potato yield in Tajikistan. Through the use of resistant potato varieties, farmers prevent yield losses and increase both their potato productivity and income as a result. Resistant varieties also decrease use of plant protection materials, thus reducing farmers’ expenses and anthropogenic impact on nature. Photo 9. Insect-proof nets installed on potato yield. On the basis of 3 years of observations, the use of pheromone capsules and high tunnels with insect-proof nets helps to monitor and identify the distribution of pests as a way to define environmental/economic threshold of pesticides use. This approach was quite efficient in terms of environmental safety and production cost. An economic threshold between the harm caused by pests and use of plant protection materials will be studied during the next years and the threshold value for farmers’ practical use defined. Potato farmers will use plant protection materials only in case dissemination of pests exceeds the environmental/economic threshold. CIP implemented the dissemination program, “Help to Neighbor,” in which all potato farmers targeted by the project gave 10–20% of newly harvested seed tubers of CIP clones free of charge to their neighbors. A total of 8,668 m2 on 17 farms were planted with treated seed potato of CIP varieties and local control ‘Aladdin’. The emergence rate of treated seeds was 90–95% for CIP-720189 (‘Surkhob’) and 95–98% for CIP-392797.22 (‘Tojikiston’). Emergence rates for other varieties varied from 53% to 73% in the same period. Potatoes from the second growing season were harvested from all 17 demo plots of Khatlon province by the end of November 2018. During the tuberization phase (3–4 November) strong frosts occurred at night and severely damaged potato plants. The average yields of CIP varieties ranged from 3 t to 7 t/ha in Vakhsh and Kushoniyon districts. CIP potato yield in Yavan district was above 9.5–12.7 t/ha as these demo plots were less affected by frost. Productivity of the locally use commercial variety ‘Aladdin’ was 2–3 t/ha in Yavan, which is four times less than that of CIP clones. On the basis of information from 18 farmers not part of the project, locally used potato productivity during the second growing season was 1.5 t/ha, which is 9–10 times less than the yield from CIP clones. Therefore, CIP varieties showed high tolerance to frost (Photo 10). Photo 10. Potato field after frost.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 11 2.2.2 Early potato production Khatlon farmers have a distinct climatic advantage, enabling farmers who produce early potato to get a considerably higher value from their production than those who harvest later in the season (Photo 11). CIP introduced an early potato production scheme under low plastic tunnels (not insect-proof nets, as above), planting potato in November–December. Potato production under cover increases productivity, improves quality of the product, and ensures the potato is harvested and available to buyers earlier (in April, approximately 15–20 days sooner than under traditional methods) (Photo 12). This 20-day market window allows farmers to capture the highest possible Photo 11. Early potato production farmer prices for their crop. It is also ecologically safer, requiring fewer in Khatlon. pesticides, water, and fertilizer, and requires less labor such as weeding and sowing. There are also strong land use benefits to this technology. The early potato, planted in November, is harvested in late April–May the following year, Photo 12. Early potato harvest, Khatlon. enabling the farmer to grow a second crop each year on the same plot of land. The second crop increases farmer income and promotes improved soil quality through crop rotation. Because farmers have limited irrigated land, most do not use crop rotation, which increases the risk of diseases and pests accumulating in the soil. High-quality seed potato of six CIP varieties (CIP-720090, CIP-396311.1, CIP-394034.7, CIP-397077.16, CIP-92797.22, and CIP-720189) were produced in village Jirgital, at IBPPG’s potato production station using CIP’s guidelines. Average productivity of CIP varieties was 30 t/ha in the high mountain region of Tajikistan. Harvested tubers were produced, packed, and delivered to Khatlon to establish eight demo plots for early potato production under plastic film in October/November at farms in the villages of Vakhsh, Bokhtar, and Yavon of Khatlon province. 95– 100% of germination was observed for CIP varieties on demo plots of early potato production in March. CIP potato varieties were compared with local commercial variety ‘Aladdin’. On the basis of yield data analyzed, the highest yield (up to 50 t/ha) was recorded for CIP-396311.1 (47.5 t/ha) in all three districts. Yield of control variety ‘Aladdin’ (36.3 t/ha) was 31% lower than that of CIP-396311.1. In addition, the percentage of marketable tubers was almost the same as total harvest of CIP-396311.1 but was much lower for ‘Aladdin’. The price of potato at harvest was 2 somoni. This potato yield increase has boosted farmers’ income by 31%, or 22,400 somoni/ha. All CIP varieties yielded higher than ‘Aladdin’. Project beneficiary farmers got additional income from early harvesting of potato (Photo group 13).

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 12

Photo 13. Early potato planting in Vakhsh and, bottom right, CoolBot. This 10–15-day window on local potato market ensured that potato sales were higher (1.8–2.0 somoni) than regular potato (1–1.2 somoni). Farmers’ income increased 38,000 somoni/ha. Total increases through the use of CIP varieties and introduced early potato production were 62,000 somoni/ha; total income per hectare was 95,000 somoni. For the last 20 years farmers in Tajikistan have preferred red-skinned potato varieties because of a past bad reputation of white varieties. In commercial production CIP has offered both red (‘Tajikiston’) and white (‘Surkhob’) potato varieties to demonstrate advantage of biotic- and abiotic-resistant CIP varieties to commercial ones in Khatlon. In the following year, productivity of CIP varieties was 37–62% higher than ‘Aladdin’. Accordingly, farmers’ incomes increased 37–62% (24,000 somoni/ha). Total income per hectare fixed 63,000 somoni. Emergence rates of 92–98% were observed, with even higher rates in March. Plant height averaged 7–15 cm. First inter-row cleaning activity was carried out on all eight sites (Photo 14). Every 100th plant was provided with mineral fertilizers at the rate of 2.5 kg of a Carbamide and 1.5 kg of Ammophos. A total of 36 t of early potato was harvested on 12,000 m2 at eight farmers’ farms at the beginning of June. Productivity of CIP clones varied 34–27 t/ha. Incomes of these eight CIP farmers increased by an average of $20,000.

Photo 14. Early potato under plastic film, Kha tlon. CIP carted three CoolBot storages for potato treatment and storage. The CoolBot was developed by Store It Cold as an affordable way for small-scale producers to cool products on their farms.) The Horticulture Innovation Lab has tested cool rooms equipped with the CoolBot on three continents under USAID’s support within the Feed the Future program. Business plans have been developed for both farmers, and the costs for establishing a CoolBot have been divided between farmers, CIP, and TAWA. On the basis of the positive experiences of using CoolBots in many developing countries, CIP decided to establish this technology.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 13 CIP, together with TAWA and in consultation with Emeritus Professor and extension specialist Michael Reid, developed the specifications for the full infrastructure and designed the stores. CIP procured and handed over all materials to farmers for finalizing the new infrastructure. Accordingly, three farmers are able to provide seed potato for second growing season and are becoming seed potato producers in Khatlon province (Photo 14). This method will be very actively disseminated among the farmers, as there is a great lack of seed potato in the second growing season, since it is unavailable in July. As of 2018 beneficiary potato producers can treat seed potato tubers on their own farms for use in the second growing season (Photo 15). Photo 15. CoolBot, Kha tlon.

2.2.3 Impact of CIP varieties and CIP technologies As shown in Figure 3, CIP varieties and technologies have had a positive effect on the potato production industry in Khatalon province. Net return from potato yield of CIP varieties amounts to $12,421/ha, which is 626 times more than net return from locally used varieties. Comparing net returns of potato fields with CIP technologies and traditional potato-growing methods, CIP technologies can provide double-cropping amounting to $17,578, or some 764 times more than net return from fields using traditional methods.

Figure 3. CIP varieties (left) and CIP technologies (right).

3. CAPACITY BUILDING

3.1 Workshops The project’s inception workshop was organized in November 2016 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (Photo 16). Twenty participants attended, including USAID economic growth team; representatives from local NARS; Feed the Future program partners Chemonics, Mercy Corps, THNA, World Vegetable Center, and others; and CIP project partners. Main approaches in implementation of the project were discussed with both the donor and project partners. CIP organized the project’s 1-year progress event on 12 April 2018, in Dushanbe. Twenty-two participants from donor, international organizations, government, and partner institute IBPPG attended.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 14 CIP organized the event “Potato and Sweetpotato Production in Tajikistan—Trends and Opportunities” on 5 September 2019, in Dushanbe. Attending the event were 42 participants. These included the USAID team; representatives from CIP partner institutions and programs IBPPG, TAWA, and THAN; Asian Development Bank, World Food Programme, United Nations Development Programme; as well as local authorities from Khatlon province and specialists from state certification body (Photo 16). The event was covered by local national TV channel. Photo 16. Workshop, Dushanbe 3.2 Festival Celebrates OFSP In October 2018 CIP organized a festival at the Atlas Hotel, also in Dushanbe, to raise awareness of OFSP’s potential to reduce hunger and malnutrition in Tajikistan (Photo 17). OFSP has played a central role in initiatives to improve the food security, nutrition, and incomes of smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia. The festival was attended by 31 representatives of government institutions; NGOs; and international organizations including the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme, USAID, and GIZ. Farmers from two where CIP leads the implementation of the project sold more than 500 kg of their best sweetpotato harvests to participants. Participants also sampled biscuits and other dishes made with OFSP. The festival offered opportunities for discussions, meetings, and the exchange of experiences, leading to the establishment of new relationships between participants from different areas. Russian and English were the official languages and simultaneous translation was available. Whenever possible, festival notices, documents, and communications were made available in both languages. Photo 17. OFSP Festival in Dushanbe.

3.2 Schoolchildren Learn about the Benefits of Sweetpotato To promote sweetpotato crop to youths, CIP, in partnership with the THNA project, selected two schools for establishing sweetpotato demo plots. Before planting sweetpotato vines, the project’s national consultant conducted two trainings to THNA representatives on sweetpotato production and crop importance for health and nutrition. An interactive training was conducted for 20 school students and teachers at school #11, Dusti district (Photo 18). At school #16 22 students and teachers (grades 9 and 10) were trained interactively in A. Djomi district. The project’s national consultant provided information about sweetpotato as a nutritious crop and its vitamin contents, growing techniques, and vine production. At the end of training, school students were asked to illustrate the (new) sweetpotato crop (Photo 19). Photo 18. OFSP harvest in a nutrition garden at school #11 in Va k hsh.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 15 As part of CIP’s initiative to get more Tajikistanis growing and eating sweetpotato, a project team visited school #11 in Vakhsh. The classroom was packed with children, parents, and other community members who were interested in the nutritious crop. The CIP team projected an animated video about OFSP and explained that those orange roots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, and that it is an especially important food for children because vitamin A deficiency can cause childhood Photo 19. Sweetpotato illustration at school #11 in Va k hs h. blindness, stunting, and other health problems. Following the presentation, children and parents were invited to try biscuits and other dishes made with OFSP (Photo 20). T-shirts with sweetpotato logos were also given to the pupils, 25 of whom were lucky enough to be invited to join a sweetpotato harvest. The project team and school children harvested sweetpotato roots together in a nutrition garden in the schoolyard. The project team then invited the pupils to join them next spring to learn how the crop is planted and grows. The children said they “can’t wait.” Photo 20. Sweetpotato tasting a t school #11 in Vakhsh. 3.3 Cooking Quality Testing A sweetpotato cooking-quality test was organized in Khatlon in November 2017 to select more tasty varieties of 15 introduced clones (Photo 21). The 45 participants of the event included the USAID team of Ms. Laura Cizmo, Economic Growth Team Lead, USAID/Central Asia/Tajikistan Country Office, and Mr. Mukhiddindzhon Nurmatov, project management specialist/ Economic Growth Office, USAID/Central Asia. Also attending were project stakeholders, CIP partners, and farmers..

Photo 21. OFSP cooking quality test.

Fifteen OFSP CIP clones have been tested on the following parameters: color, sweetness, texture, fiber content, and overall adaptability (Photo 22). Three OFSP clones (СIP- 105085.2, СIP-106603.1, and СIP-440136) showed best results.

Photo 22. OFSP clones underwent a cooking-quality test.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 16 3.4 Training Farmers A CIP sweetpotato specialist conducted 5 days of training for IBPPG scientists, TAWA and THNA staff, local consultants, advisors, and farmers on sweetpotato production technologies. A total of 91 participants (51 women, 40 men) attended. A participation of 56% of women indicated that sweetpotato and potato production is seen as women-friendly crops in the Tajikistan agricultural sector (Photo 23).

Photo 23. Participants at the sweetpotato training sessions.

The training course was organized and held in March 2017 in Dushanbe and Qurgan-Tuppe, Khatlon, at CIP partners’ offices. The training covered such topics as sweetpotato in vitro multiplication, plant adaptation under greenhouse conditions, transplanting to open-fields, establishment of nurseries, vine production, and establishment of sweetpotato production plots. CIP provided protocols for producing potato and sweetpotato seed and seedlings (vines) to IBPPG staff. The technical guide for growing sweetpotato in the Khatlon region has been developed based on the observation of demo plots and the local sweetpotato market. The technical guide was translated into Tajik language and used by the national consultant and TAWA and THNA projects for future dissemination The second training event, “Sweetpotato and Potato Production Innovations,” was organized for project partners and farmers and took place in June at IBPPG, also in Dushanbe. The event aimed to demonstrate sweetpotato and potato multiplication techniques. As sweetpotato is a new crop it was important to demonstrate the full production cycle, from in vitro cultivation to greenhouse production of rooted plants that will be distributed to farmers for establishing sweetpotato nurseries. Thirty-three participants attended the event. Two presentations were included in the event: “Sweet potato: experience of laboratory: in-vitro multiplication and field trials,” presented by Zulfiya Davlatnazarova, a CIP coordinator of scientific research activities, and “Designing of potato double-cropping production technique in Republic of Tajikistan,” presented by Makhmadzamon Sulangov, a CIP consulting agronomist.

Two scientific-practical field days were organized on project demo plots in October 2017. The field days featured demonstration of pre-sprouting techniques, breaking dormancy, and potato production in high tunnels covered with insect-proof nets. Twenty-two participants (15 males, 7 females) attended the field day at Norkholova Zarina farm in Sherozi, jamoat Rudaki, village Vakhsh (7 Oct.). Twenty-three participants (16 males, 7 females) attended the field day at Saymatov Nasimboy, Mekhtanobod, jamoat Sitorai Surkh, village Yavan. Two field days have been conducted in November during harvesting of potato (Photo 24). Twelve attended the event in district Vakhsh, jamoat Rudaki, village Chapaev on November 16, and 14 attended the one in Mekhtanobod, jamoat Sitorai Surkh, village Yavan on November 18.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 17

Photo 24. Field days conducted for potato in November. From 20 to 22 September 2017, the project’s national consultant organized three field days on sweetpotato production technologies, to extend and broaden planting of sweetpotatoes, and potato production in second growing season using CIP varieties. A total of 113 participants attended the field days. The field day was held on 20 September in Vakhsh village, jamoat Rudaki, plot Chapaev, demo plot of Ubaidullo Nazriev; 50 participants (44 men, 6 women) attended. The second field day was held on the 21st in Bokhtar village, jamoat Mekhnatobod, plot Guliston, demo plot of Ahmad Zairov; 45 participants (28 men, 17 women) attended. The third field day was held on the 22nd in Bokhtar village, jamoat Tochikobod, plot Fidokor, demo plot of Bakhriddin Davlatov; 18 participants (11 men, 7 women) attended. CIP organized a field day on “Sweetpotato propagation and vine production” in Khatlon at OFSP farmer’s nursery on 11 April in Ahmad Zoirov, , Djamoat Mekhnatobod, demo plot of Guliston (37°44’26.9″N 68°48’36.0″E), Khatlon province. Some 32 participants attended. The local authorities came on the field day from Khatlon: first deputy of Had of Khukumat in Khatlon, Ziyozoda Sulaymon Rizoi, and head of the agriculture department of Khukumat in Khatlon, Sirochov Mekhnatullo. USAID representatives also attended the field day: Heath Gosgrove, USAID/Tajikistan’s new country director, and Laura Cizmo, Economic Growth department team leader; Mark Doyle, agriculture development officer; and Mukhiddin Nurmatov, program manager. In April the project agronomist organized a 1-day training on innovative growing technology of sweetpotatoes in the village Istiklol of Chaukhun district. The national consultant explained the biological and nutritional features of sweetpotato, its growing methods, and its tillage and soil cultivation requirements, as well as how to prepare the cuttings and store its roots. As farmers were not familiar with the introduced crop, they were very inquisitive and asked many questions. During the practical part of the training, participants visited CIP’s new demo plot in this village to see planted sweetpotatoes and were shown how to prepare the cuttings for planting. Twenty participants (farmers and advisors) attended the training, as did representatives of THNA and UCA staff. Results of OFSP production in Tajikistan were presented at the Asia Sweetpotato Breeders and Seed System meeting on 28–31 May in Thiruvananthruram, India. Up to 40 participants, scientists, and business sector representatives from eight countries attended the meeting to discuss sweetpotato breeding, production, processing, and storage conditions and to plan future activities.

Six field days on sweetpotato and potato production from freshly harvested tubers in second growing season were organized on 18–27 September; 150 participants (39 women, 111 men) attended. All the field days included a lecture and activities directly in the sweetpotato and potato fields of CIP clones.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 18 On 13 September CIP presented OFSP at the agricultural exhibition organized by WEE, a USAID project. Both fresh and cooked OFSP CIP clones were offered to participants. Stakeholders, WEE partners, farmers and their representatives, private entrepreneurs, and many others attended the events. The guests were greatly interested in the new agricultural crop (OFSP). Some entrepreneurs are interested in buying sweetpotatoes on a regular basis. On 27 March 2019, the project’s national consultant conducted a 1-day training on innovative growing technology of sweetpotatoes/potatoes for 19 OFSP beneficiary farmers in two villages of Khatlon region. The training was held at the farmers’ sites in greenhouses. On 2 May the project’s national consultant conducted the same 1-day training for 26 participants (5 women, 21 men), including OFSP beneficiary farmers in Rudaki village, of Khatlon region. The training was held at the demo plot of farmer Saydali Makhmadaliev. On 3 May the project’s national consultant conducted the same training for 20 participants (8 women, 12 men), including OFSP beneficiary farmers in Yavon district of Khatlon. The training was held at the demo plot of farmer Kirgizbekova Zaynab.

3.5 Success Story Mr. Anvar Sharipov, a CIP OFSP farmer whose farm is in Vakhsh, jamoat Rudaki, Chapaev 1, started to work with sweetpotato in 2018 after attending a full course on OFSP production trainings in 2017–2018. He then received 1,000 OFSP vines in April 2018 and planted them on a 189-m2 plot to establish an OFSP nursery. Mr. Sharipov produced 8,000 vines, which he has replanted on a 798-m2 OFSP production plot in June 2018, and harvested 5,000 kg of OFSP on his plot in September 2018. He sold all 5 t of OFSP for 5–10 somoni/kg and earned a total income of around 30,000 somoni ($3,100) from his plot. Mr. Sharipov considers OFSP a high-income crop and has decided to increase the area under OFSP for next year. Even after he purchased a small tractor he still had a remaining income of 21,000 somoni in 2018. He received a certificate from the Department of Phytosanitary and Seed Certification of the Food Safety Committee that allows him to sell OFSP to big supermarkets and hotels. In 2019 Mr. Sharipov established a 1,000-m2 plot for OFSP production and harvested 21 t of sweetpotato. (The sale price for OFSP in 2019 is around 5 somoni/kg.) Accordingly, in 2019 his net income will be 34,000 somoni ($3,700) on 1,000 m2, resulting in $37,000/ha. Since 2019 Anvar’s son Oyatullo has been helping his father with production of OFSP, looking at it as a good business. OFSP has become a family business for the Sharipov family.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 19 4. PARTNERS AND COLLABORATION

4.1 UCA In accordance with its internal policies and regulations, and with respect to implementation of its activities within the project only, UCA helped CIP implement the research and practical activities in Tajikistan. This includes facilitating CIP’s relationship with relevant Tajikistan government departments (e.g., acquiring permission for meetings scheduled by the project activities) and providing administrative support services to CIP’s project staff and consultants (e.g., arranging meetings and trips to project sites, etc.).

4.2 IBPPG The institute provides facilities for in vitro multiplication of potato and sweetpotato plants in laboratory and production of microtubers under greenhouse conditions, and stores treated tubers in its cool storage facility installed with support from CIP. Initial plant material (clones) introduced by CIP–HQ to Tajikistan have been multiplied in IBPPG’s laboratory and adopted in its greenhouse. IBPPG started multiplication of new CIP potato clones for future on-farm demos. CIP supported the institute with the necessary technical support and equipment to produce clean planting material of potato and sweetpotato. IBPPG is responsible for scientific research activities under CIP’ supervision. Promised clones of sweetpotato and potato are multiplying under in vitro condition at IBPPG’s laboratory. An initial material (tub plants) introduced by CIP- HQ will be transferred to IBPPG’s greenhouse for adaptation under controlled conditions before being transplanted to open field. Adapted plants of potato and sweetpotato are producing for future introduction into smallholders’ farms. IBPPG visited CIP’s China Center for Asia Pacific facility to improve knowledge of potato and sweetpotato production. IBPPG developed and submitted the documentation for registration of two selected OFSP clones to the Committee for Variety Testing and Variety Protection.

4.3 Other Partners—Chemonics (TAWA) and IntraHealth (THAN) To improve coordination between Feed the Future partners, CIP initiated a memorandum of understanding with Chemonics/TAWA and IntraHealth/THNA projects concerning CIP/Chemonics’ collaboration with the Feed the Future Program. TAWA is actively involved in the selection of farmers and establishment of potato and sweetpotato field trials as well as in organizing trainings and demos. TAWA project provided equipment for CoolBot created in three districts. TAWA and THNA staff attended CIP trainings, field days, and other events to improve knowledge in innovative technologies of potato and sweetpotato production. Project beneficiaries have been linked to TAWA staff for future collaboration. THNA was involved in CIP’s nutrition activities and selected schools for the demonstration of OFSP. CIP provided vine cuttings of five OFSP varieties, produced locally at a CIP beneficiary farmer’s nursery.

5. MANAGEMENT PLAN

At the beginning of the project, a start-up meeting was organized at CIP–Lima with the main collaborators based there (i.e., Human Resources, Genetics and Crop Improvement, Integrated Crop and Production System, Social Sciences, Logistics, Research Support Services, Finance, and Communication). A number of issues were agreed: (1) human resources employed at project level, (2) import of equipment to be used to measure soil moisture content, (3) partners’ collaboration format, (4) germplasm materials used by the project

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 20 and its transfer regulations to Tajikistan, (5) innovative technologies offered within the project, (6) advising on the collaboration with other Feed the Future programs in Tajikistan, (7) reporting and accounting procedures, and (8) training materials produced by the project to diffuse improved technology and germplasm. Gregory Forbes was replaced by Rusudan Mdivani as a principal investigator in the project. UCA monitored implementation of project activities in country and reported to the CIP–Central Asia and the Caucuses office. A local consultant managed field activities under supervision of UCA’s project manager and project coordinator. UCA appointed a new project assistant to support the national consultant. The project consultant reported to project staff on the implementation of activities bi-weekly and to the partners at the end of each growing season. IBPPG’s facilities (e.g., in vitro laboratory, greenhouse, etc.), including the cold store that CIP built in previous projects, was used for potato and sweetpotato in vitro multiplication and plant adaptation under greenhouse conditions. Microtubers were also produced at IBPPG.

A local consultant experienced in potato production and familiar with local production systems implemented the project field activities. He was seconded by two technical staff from the TAWA project. The leader of the TAWA project supervised the activities, supported by UCA’s project manager. The project consultant reported to project staff on the implementation of activities bi-weekly and to the partners at the end of each growing season. CIP project partners were involved in specific activities regarding training on topics such as postharvest management, pre-sprouting, breaking dormancy, and pest identification and dynamics. The project’s organizational structure is shown in Figure 4.

USAID Collaboration/Coordination CIP–HQ Management Team

Project Supervisor Samarendu Mohanty, Regional Director of Asia

Principal Investigator Rusudan Mdivani, Regional Leader, Central Asia and Caucasus

UCA Project Manager Local Consultant

IBPPG Smallholder 1

TAWA Smallholder 2

THAN Smallholder 3

USAID Self-Help

Figure 4. Organizational chart for the “Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II.”

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 21 6. PROJECT BUDGET

The project’s budget of $389,504 was planned to fund the research at the partner institute IBPPG and to establish on-farm demos. The budget supported the following additional activities: • Establishment of demo plots of potato production in second growing season, sweetpotato commercial production, and sweetpotato nurseries. • Capacity building for staff of IBPPG and the TAWA project, TAWA partners, and all stakeholders involved in potato seed production in project activities. • Organization of open field days and other training sessions, based on a training needs assessment. • Development of promotional materials for publishing, focused on the promotion of sweetpotatoes in schools and kindergartens. • CIP, supported by USAID funding, helped IBPPG with the technical support and equipment necessary to produce clean planting material of potato and sweetpotato. • CIP supported improvements in potato and sweetpotato production sector in Tajikistan through the creation of linkages between science and production.

7. LESSONS LEARNED

• Most of newly selected farmers were not able to provide large (at least 0.2 ha) land area due to lack of available arable land. Sweetpotato is still a largely unknown (and new) crop for Tajikistan which requires additional promotional activities. Also, cooperation of OFSP farmers is suggested to ensure quality of product and sustainable supply of OFSP to big supermarkets and hotels. • Owing to cold weather from February to early April, as well as ambient temperature changes and rainfall in April, potato planted in autumn 2018 and sweetpotato roots in greenhouses grew slowly. However, all farmers received relative high yields of potato due to correct tillage requirements and timely implementation of all processes in optimal terms (e.g., inter-row treatments, fertilizing with urea and Ammophos, and irrigation). A heater was installed in greenhouses to maintain internal optimal temperatures. Farmers powered the heater when window temperature is lower than +13°C and powered down when window temperature exceeded +15°C. In the future, to ensure proper development of sweetpotato vines, CIP recommends using seedling-production space in greenhouse, covered with additional plastic film and heater. For early potato production, use low tunnels, covering until the end of January. • OFSP farmers’ cooperation in production-sale chain is most suitable way to ensure high marketability of produced product at farmers’ farms for supermarket chains and sustainable supply of market. • IBPPG and its integration into the international sweetpotato research community will ensure sustainability of CIP’s interventions in the development of Tajikistan’s potato and sweetpotato sectors. IBPPG had taken a central role for acquisition, maintenance, and providing clean planting material via a seed system for the project. In the future, IBPPG will participate in a major multi-environmental trial series across countries using in vitro-germinated OFSP elite crosses for high iron storage root content. This activity is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation both in Mozambique and in Peru, where it also receives funds from USAID.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 22 CIP continiues work on extension of activities in country. Every consumer likes convenient food to eat, and bread is extremely popular in Tajikistan and Central Asia itself. The idea is that CIP wants to replace a significant percentage of wheat flour with OFSP puree to increase the vitamin A content of the product. The puree turns the product golden, improves its flavor, and usually lowers the cost of production for the processor. OFSP is a crop that Tajik farmers can grow instead of buying or using imported wheat flour from other countries (Tajikistan cannot produce enough wheat flour to meet the demands of its citizens). On the basis of CIP’s experience in other countries, OFSP puree can be used as a substitute for 30–50% of wheat flour in a range of baked or fried products, reducing production costs by 12% and increasing nutritional content. As Tajikistan is a consumer of bread and almost all wheat is imported, we will offer OFSP for the use in the country’s baking industry as a next stage of CIP’s work in Tajikistan.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 23 ANNEXES

Annex 1: Sweetpotato Hornworm Description and biology. The small, shiny eggs are laid singly on any part of the plant. The larvae have a conspicuous posterior “horn,” varying in color from green to brown and marked with distinct striped patterns. The last instar caterpillars reach 9.5 cm in length. Hornworms are found mainly on young shoots. The larval period lasts 3–4 weeks. Pupation takes place in the soil and takes 5–26 days, depending on the temperature. The large, reddish brown pupa is characterized by a proboscis, which is curved downward. Adults are large, gray hawkmoths with black lines on the wings; wingspan is 8–12 cm.

Damage. Yield losses can occur if heavy defoliation takes place when the crop is young. A large caterpillar can defoliate a plant, and a large population of late instar larvae can defoliate a field overnight. The larvae feed on the leaf blades and cause irregular holes. They may eat the entire blade, leaving only the petiole.

Distribution and importance. A convolvuli occurs worldwide. It is not usually a serious pest, although severe outbreaks have been reported in Vietnam.

Control. Handpicking the larvae from the leaves is usually sufficient. Plowing the land between crops exposes the pupae. Light trapping can be used to monitor the population of adults. When a large increase in adult numbers occurs, manual removal of small larvae can prevent the build-up of an outbreak population of the voracious late-instar larvae. Pesticide use disrupts the hornworm’s action of the egg and larval parasites. After following CIP recommendations, pest damage has not been defined and all fields of sweetpotato grow well.

Sweetpotato hornworm and its damage on leaves.

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 24 Annex 2: CIP Clones Selected for Registration The selected CIP OFSP clones for registration (CIP-105085.2 and CIP-440136) are described below. CIP-105085.2 (local name of ‘Somoni’)

Phenological characteristics of CIP-105085.2.

• General productivity was 82.7 t/ha in 2018, including marketable harvest of 76.4 t/ha. • Average mass of a marketable roots is 756 g and efficiency of one plant is 1,754 kg/plant. • The main stem is 180 cm long, with 16 stems 27 cm long typically on one plant. Distance between bladed leaves is about 7 cm per stem. Color of root skin is yellowish orange. • The leaves are dark green and in a simple spiral; young leaves are shaded a light violet. The bladed leaves are mildly distinct from the taller central blade. Flowers are formed in the heart of the leaves. The center is up to 2 cm in diameter, funnel-shaped, and pink with a purple center. The plant produces very few flowers. • The tuber is an oblong oval. The variety is middle-maturing with a vegetative period of 140–150 days. One plant yields an average of five roots. Average mass of commodity roots is 756g, efficiency per plant 1,824g. • This clone differs from others in that its is highly resistant to drought and heat, which is confirmed by several phenological characteristics

CIP-106603.1 (local name of ‘Shokhin’)

Phenological characteristics of CIP-106603.1 .

• General productivity was 74.7 t/ha in 2018, including marketable harvest of 66.8 t/ha. • Average mass of a marketable roots was 475 g and efficiency of one plant is 1,585 kg/plant. • The main stem is 240cm, with 14 stems 8–10cm long typically on one plant. Root skin color red-orange. • Heart-shaped leaves are green and in a simple spiral. A vein on the leaf’s reverse side is a violet color. Young leaves can sometimes have a pink- violet shade which disappears as the leaf ages. The bladed leaves are clearly distinct from the extended central part. Flowers are formed in the heart of leaves. The center is up to 2 cm in diameter, funnel-shaped, and pink with a purple center. The plant produces several flowers. • The roots are oblong oval, yellow, and its pulp is light orange. The variety is middle-maturing with a vegetative period of 140–150 days. • This clone differs from others as it is resistant to drought and salinity, as confirmed by several phenological characteristics

Potato production support and research to improve food security in Khatlon, Tajikistan—Phase II Final Technical Report 25

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