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E2028

Republic of TAJIKISTAN

Ministry of Agriculture

EMERGENCY FOOD SECURITY AND SEED IMPORTS PROJECT

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN REPORT

Dushanbe, November 26, 2008

1 Contains Acronyms 3 Executive Summary 4 I. Country’s background 7 II. Objectives of the EA 9 III. Policy, legal, and administrative framework 10 (a) Tajikistan’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies 10 (b) World Bank Environmental Policy and Environmental Assessment Requirements 16 IV. Project description 17 V. Baseline Environmental Analysis 18 VI. Potential Environmental Impacts 23 VII. Analysis of project alternatives 24 VIII. Mitigation Measures 25 IX. Monitoring Plan 30 X. Stakeholders analysis and institutional responsibilities 31 XI. Implementing arrangements 32 XII. Budget 32 XIII. Public Consultation 33

Annexes: 35 Annex 1. Summary of project potential adverse environmental impacts Annex 2 Environmental Management Matrix Annex 3. Monitoring Plan Matrix Annex 4. Legal framework and main requirements concerning environmental and health safety of mineral fertilizers usage Annex 5 List of consulted stakeholders and specialists Annex 6. Minutes of EMP public consultation

Tables:

Table 1. Selected environment-related legislation Table 2. Laws and regulations related to agrochemicals usage in Tajikistan Table 3. Condition of irrigated land, 2000 (’000 ha) Table 4. Main Characteristics of Surkhob River Basin in Rasht valley. Table 5. Typical hazard scenarios and recommended measures Table 6. Information dissemination and training activities Table 7. Budget estimates

2 Acronyms

ADB Asian Development Bank ALM Agency of Land Management, Geodesy and Cartography (mapping) ATC Agricultural Training Center CAWMP Community Agriculture and Watershed Management Project CEP Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan CPS Country Partnership Strategy DATs Debt Audit Teams DRMU Debt Resolution Management Unit EAP Environmental Action Plan EA Environmental Assessment EMF Environmental Management Framework EMP Environmental Management Plan EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMMP Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan FFS Farmer Field Schools FIAS Farmer Information Advisory Service FPSP Farm Privatization Support Project GBAO Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous oblast GDP Gross Domestic Product GOT Government of Tajikistan ICG International Crisis Group IPM Integrated Pest Management JDCs Jamoat Development Committees LRCSP Land Registration and Cadastre System for Sustainable Agriculture Project MAC Maximum Allowable Concentrations MIGA Micro Investment Government Agency MIWR Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources MOA Ministry of Agriculture MOF Ministry of Finance MOH Ministry of health NGO Non-governmental Organization OP Operational Policy PAU Poverty Assessment Update PIU Project Implementation Unit PMP Pest Management Plan POP Persistent Organic Pollutants RIRP Rural Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project RRS Rayon under Republican Subordination SEE State Ecological Expertise SPV Special Payment Vehicle UNDP United Nations Development Program WB World Bank WUA Water User Association WHO World Health Organization

3 Executive summary

1. Project objective. The objective of the project is to increase domestic food production and reduce the loss of livestock to help at least 77,000 poorest households in a timely manner to reduce the negative impact of high and volatile food prices. This objective will be realized with the provision of agricultural inputs to the poorest farmers and female-headed households, to support their immediate food security as well as to recover their production losses and livelihoods.

2. Project description. The project will be composed of three components: Component A: Support for Agricultural Inputs (US$2.7 million equivalent). This component would support the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) administered program providing agricultural inputs in Tajikistan. The support would be provided in standard packages composed of high quality seed for winter wheat and fertilizer. Component B: Improvement of Livestock Health and Husbandry (US$1.80 million equivalent). The funding from this component would support the purchase of a package of fodder crop seeds (alfalfa) to be provided to the farmers in Rasht valley. Component C Project Management (US$ 500,000 equivalent) will be allocated for project management costs incurred by FAO. This funding will also cover expenses such as program audit, the hiring of additional specialists, as well as for farmers training, and monitoring and evaluation.

3. Project location. The Component A will be implemented in Khatlon oblast (in19 districts) while component B in Rasht Valley (in 7 districts).

4. Project category. In accordance with the Bank’s safeguard policies and procedures, including OP/BP/GP 4.01 Environmental Assessment, the proposed project has been classified as a Category B project for environmental assessment purposes. This requires the preparation of the following: (i) an Environmental Assessment encompassing the entire project scope; (ii) an Environmental Management Plan which would include steps to mitigate any potential impacts identified, together with the respective monitoring plan, budgets, responsibility and schedules of execution.

5. Purpose and Terms of Reference for the Environmental Assessment. The purpose of the environmental assessment (EA) is to identify the significant environmental impacts of the project (both positive and negative) and to specify appropriate preventive actions and mitigation measures (including appropriate monitoring) to prevent, eliminate or minimize any anticipated adverse impacts. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was carried out by an independent local consultant, based on what was prepared a simple Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The EA report was prepared based on the following: (i) analysis of the existing national legal documents, regulations and guidelines; (ii) WB safeguard policies, as well as WB and FAO guiding materials with regard to treated seeds and fertilizers handling; (iii) exisitng EIA for similar projects; and (iii) results of consultations with the representatives from all interested parties and stakeholders.

6. Tajikistan Regulatory framework for EA. During the last decade Tajikistan has developed its own EA rules and procedures, which generally are in line with the WB requirements. The main regulatory act in this area, - the Law on Ecological Expertise clearly stipulates the main responsibilities, as well as requirements for conducting environmental impact assessment and review of activities that might have an impact on the environment. The law introduces the concept of state ecological review (literally, state ecological “expertise” – SEE) which seeks to examine the compliance of proposed activities and projects with the requirements of

4 environmental legislation and standards. The SEE precedes decision-making about activities that may have an adverse impact on the environment. Financing of programs and projects is allowed only after a positive SEE conclusion has been issued. According to the existing national EA legislation, the projects which involves providing agricultural inputs to the farmers doesn’t no require a special review by the SEE but should include safety measures to be applied while handling them.

7. Institutional framework and capacities to perform safeguards. The EA institutional capacity of the borrower was assessed during project preparation and concluded that the FAO PIU and the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Forestry have relevant capacities to perform their duties concerning reviewing EA studies and enforcing EMP provisions. The project will support additional information dissemination and training activities to ensure the environmental requirements and EMP provisions will be fully implemented.

8. Potential environmental impacts. Activities under the project are not expected to generate significant and/or irreversible adverse environmental impacts and the project is therefore classified as Environmental Category B. Project components only involve the distribution of seeds and fertilizers and would have both positive and adverse environmental and social impacts. From the assessment, the identified positive impacts of the project include:  increased food security,  increased household income for the smallholder farmers, due to higher agricultural productivity;  improved nutritional status of the farmers due to increased agricultural production;  improved farmer skills from trainings in technologies, seed breeding, fertilizer use and land conservation;  improved soil fertility due to fodder crop sowing (enrichment by nitrogen), use of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.  increased opportunity for engagement in other income generating activities or small scale businesses by smallholder farmers due to increased food security for the households; A number of potential negative impacts that may result from implementation of the project include the following:  increased pollution of both ground and surface waters due to soil erosion;  threats to human health and wildlife due to poor handling of treated seeds and fertilizers;  contamination of ground and surface water with fertilizers; and,  increased siltation of water bodies due to soil erosion. Most of these potential environmental impacts are minor and could be easily managed during the project implementation.

9. Environment Management Plan. A brief Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which includes steps to mitigate identified potential adverse impacts, together with the respective monitoring plan, budgets, responsibility and schedules of execution was prepared by the local consultant. These impacts will be mitigated mostly through capacity building and avoidance activities. In this regard, the EMP contains an outline of a training program on sustainable land use practices, including information about full implications of mono-culture on soil fertility, land degradation and crops quality. Additionally the farmers will also receive training on the best practices in seeds and fertilizers usage. These trainings would ensure that there will be no waste, that transport and handling, as well as application, are made in a safe and effective manner. These trainings would also involve inspectors from the State Ecological Inspection which is responsible for enforcing the national environmental protection regulations.

5 10. Monitoring plan. The EMP includes a Monitoring Plan with measures that will be employed to track the effectiveness of the Mitigation Plan and described the environmental indicators to be monitored, along with the monitoring methods, frequency, costs, as well as the monitoring and reporting procedures, including institutional arrangements for the implementation of this plan. It addresses in particular project need to monitor and mitigate negative impact of increase in the use of agrochemicals.

11. EA report disclosure and consultation. The Ministry of Agriculture has disseminated the draft summary EMP in its institutions and to other relevant ministries for review and comments, also posting (on November 11, 2008) it for wide public on the web-page of the Tajik Branch of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (website www.carecnet.org). After two week time on November 24, 2008, the PIU has conducted a public briefing and consultation meeting on the document. Outside of participants from the interested state institutions in the meeting took part also representatives from environmental and agricultural NGOs, local representatives of the government bodies, such as CEP, MoA, MoH, MIWR, and others. The meeting concluded that the draft EMP document covered practically all potential impacts and possible mitigation measures. The draft EMP was revised after the meeting, taking into account inputs from the consultation. The final version of the EMP was provided to the World Bank, and will be used by the government agencies in the project implementation. The Russian versions of EA and EMP report will be available in CEP, MoA and relevant web-sites.

6 I. Country’s background

12. Tajikistan is a small, mountainous, landlocked country with a territory of 143,1 thousand km 2. Population of the country, according to the census conducted in 2000, numbers 6 million 127,5 thousand people. Of the total area of 14,3 million hectares (ha) 4,6 million ha is agriculture land. With rural population of 4,6 million, this means a very limited land availability of about 0.16 ha/capita1 of rural population.

13. The country is considered the poorest of the former Soviet Union countries. In 2003, 64 percent of the population was poor (defined as living on less than USD 2.15 per day at purchasing power parity). Almost three quarters of Tajikistan’s poor people, but only 65 percent of the population, live in two regions, Khatlon and Sugd2. However, a poverty rate of 64 percent in 2003 represents a considerable improvement over 2000, when 83 percent of the residents lived below the official poverty line.

14. The country’s economy deeply suffered from both the disintegration of the Former Soviet Union in 1991 and the bitter Civil War that began in 1992. Impoverished by sudden shortages of fuel, income, and food, the population has reverted to subsistence practices, which put an extra burden on the natural resources and the environment of the country.

15. The socio-political and economic shocks of this last decade have directly affected the environment causing degradation especially in a few major areas: (i) natural disasters; (ii) land degradation; (iii) limited access to safe drinking water supply; (iv) threatened wildlife and protected areas, (v) air pollution in urban areas; and (vi) water pollution and wastes management3.

16. The country has four administrative regions: (i) Khatlon (includes Kurgan-Tube and Kulyab), which is an agricultural area with most of country’s cotton growing districts; (ii) the Rayons of Republican Subordination (RRS) with the massive aluminum smelter (TADAZ) in the west and agricultural valleys in the east predominantly growing crops other than cotton; (iii) Sugd, which is the most industrialized region but also involved in cotton growing; and (iv) Gorno-Badakhshan Administrative Oblast (GBAO), which is mountainous, remote and sparsely populated.

17. About 4.1 million ha of the country territory is agricultural land; most of this land is pasture (more than 3 million ha). The area of arable and irrigated land per capita is lower in Tajikistan than in other Central Asian countries. This is a bottleneck in the development of the country’s economy, in particular in view of the rapid increase of the population. Of Tajikistan’s total 851,000 ha of arable land, 719,000 ha are irrigated.

18. Tajikistan is very rich in freshwaters. On average 50.9 billion m 3 of water is formed annually on its territory4. These resources stem from precipitation and melting glaciers, which, along with snowfields, constitute a huge reserve of water (estimated at 845 billion m3, covering 8% of the territory). These waters drain to the Aral Sea basin, where they represent 55% of the total basin

1 ADB Memorandum of Understanding. Fact Finding Mission. Proposed Sustainable Subsector Project for the Republic of Tajikistan. 3-26 October 2005. 2 World Bank Tajikistan Poverty Assessment Update (PAU), 2004. 3 National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) of the Republic of Tajikistan. Governmental Decision No. from June , 2006 4 State of the Environment: Republic of Tajikistan. GRID Arendale, 2002 (see State of the Environment: Republic of Tajikistan. GRID Arendale, 2002 (see: http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/tadjik/soe2001/eng/

7 flow. They flow to the Amu Darya river (50.2 billion m3) and the Syr-Darya river (0.7 billion m3), through Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. There are 1300 lakes containing 46 billion m3 of water, and 9 water reservoirs (overall capacity 15.3 billion m3, individual capacity from 0.028 to 10.5 billion m3). The latter are mainly used to produce electricity, to irrigate crops and to protect from mudflows.

19. Tajikistan is home to unique species of flora and fauna. There are 4 nature reserves (zapovedniks), 14 nature refuges (zakazniks) and 2 National Parks – most of them established during the Soviet times. Nature reserves exist along the Vakhsh river delta (Tigrovaya Balka), in Southern Tajikistan, characterized by tugai forests along the Vakhsh and Panj rivers; in Dashtijum, where populations of markhor, snow leopard and Siberian ibex live; and in Zorkul, which includes the protected areas of Zorkul lake islands, where bar-headed goose and argali are nesting. Despite these figures, nearly 80 percent of Tajik unique ecosystems are located outside protected areas.

20. The flora and fauna of the country consists of more than 23,000 species of which about 1,900 are endemic. Rare and endangered animals include the sheep Marco Polo, snow leopard, peregrine, paradise flycatcher, mountain goose, marmot, gray lizard, and Siberian ibex. The Red Data Book also lists the Bukhara red deer, the Persian gazelle, and the koodoo markhur as vulnerable fauna. A number of birds are equally endangered, for example a number of species of waders, birds of pray, pheasants, cranes, plovers, pigeons, and swifts. Nearly half of the species of the mid-mountain forest ecosystems are considered endangered because of reduced habitat. Cutting trees, overgrazing, as well as poaching represent serious threats to the preservation of wildlife in the country. In addition, lack of environmental education contributes to a poor use of biological resources. For example, more than 60 species of wild medicinal factories that grow in Tajik forests are used by people in the country without necessarily knowing weather the specie is endangered or not.

21. There are 1,941,000 ha of forest lands in the country which constitute only about 3% of its territory. The closed forest of 40% crown coverage or more is estimated at 401,000 ha. Satellite images show that 694,000 ha are forest or areas covered with trees and shrubs. Since forests secure water, prevent erosion and protect soils, logging is prohibited except for sanitary tree- cuttings and restoration works. Clear-cutting is not allowed, only selective cutting. The forests productivity is poor with only about 10% with the higher growth classes. The total timber volume in natural forests is estimated to just above 5 million m3. This is less than 13 m3 per ha of closed forest, a very low figure.

22. The agricultural sector represents the basis for the national economy, - in 2003, it represented about 26 percent of the country’s GDP and two thirds of its labor force was employed in this sector. Along with cotton (the main crop in Tajikistan’s agriculture), the country cultivates rice, cereals, tobacco, potatoes, vegetables, and vineyards. Livestock breeding (cattle, sheep and goats) is second to cotton growing in for the economic value generated. The structure of production changed considerably after independence, as the share of production devoted to basic foodstuffs such as grain and potatoes has increased. However, cotton remains the dominating cash crop.

23. In 2004, agricultural land extended over 4.2 million ha, or about 30 percent of the country’s total land area (14.2 million ha.). The vast majority of agricultural land is pasture, 3.4 million ha, or 81 percent. Most of pastures in the country are summer pastures at high altitude. Summer pastures, though, are not used intensely which, in turn, creates more pressure on winter pastures with negative consequences for production and land

8 degradation. Arable lands (irrigated and non-irrigated) account for 800 thousand. Irrigated agricultural land represents only about 17 percent of all agricultural land, but it generates about 80 percent of agricultural production, and 85 percent of water use for irrigation. About 83 percent of irrigated land is located in the Khatlon and Sugd regions.

24. Tajikistan has approximately 718,049 ha of irrigated land incorporating almost 6,000 km of main irrigation canals and about 12,000 km of drainage infrastructure. A significant share of this infrastructure is no longer fully operational. Estimates of land area that is still able to grow irrigated crops, even at low productivity levels, vary considerably but seem to converge around a figure of 630,000 ha, implying that about 88,000 ha of land are not irrigated because of malfunctioning irrigation infrastructure. In addition, approximately 116,000 ha of the irrigated land are affected by various degree of salinization.5 Thus, in reality the irrigated land unaffected by adverse factors is around 514,000 ha. Half of the irrigated land is in Khatlon, 35 percent in Sugd and 14 percent in RRS. Cotton is the overwhelmingly dominant cash crop, accounting for almost 30 percent of the country’s export earnings6. Three quarters of Tajikistan’s farmland and a similar share of farm households are dedicated to growing cotton, although other crops (wheat, vegetables and etc.) are taking an increasing share.

II. Objective of the EA

25. The objective of the EA is to determine the potential environmental and social impacts of proposed project activities. The potential impacts determined and analyzed relate to activities targeted at providing agricultural inputs (seed and fertilizers) which would increase agricultural productivity and food security. In the case of their inappropriate handling of these activities may lead to increased use of land and its degradation as well as to increased environment and health risks. The EA should recommend appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures as well as institutional arrangements for environmental management under the project. In preparing the EA, various stakeholder consultations were conducted. Key stakeholders consulted included:

(a) staff at all levels of the Ministry of Agriculture (the Ministry, Districts and Area levels) (b) representatives from the Environmental Protection Committee; (c) Members of various hukumats; (d) Local leaders; and, (e) Farmers in various selected jamoats.

These consultations were carried out to share the views of key stakeholders and to obtain their input in the identification of environmental and social impacts of the project. A list of individuals and institutions consulted is included in Annex 5.

The strategies used and activities performed in the preparation of the EA report included: a. Review of existing national biophysical and social conditions presented in different sources of information including statistical data, data on socio-economic development in the country, and Environmental Reports; b. Analysis of the project activities which are likely to have environmental and social impacts on the various environmental components;

5 The World Bank. Rural Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project. 2000 6 World Bank Tajikistan Poverty Assessment Update (PAU), 2004.

9 c. Identification and analysis of potential environmental and social impacts of the project, based on the public consultations, project description, other similar documents and professional knowledge; d. Identification of appropriate mitigation measures for the potential environmental and social impacts; e. Preparation of an environmental management plan (EMP) for addressing the impacts during the different project stages and activities and; f. Preparation of a monitoring plan for effective implementation of the EMP

III. Policy, legal, and administrative framework

(a) Tajikistan’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies:

Legal framework for environmental protection

26. Overview. Tajikistan has developed during last decade most of the needed environmental laws and regulations (see table 1).

Table 1: Selected environment-related legislation Air quality  Law on Air Protection  Law on Hydrometeorological Activity Mineral resources  Law on Mineral Waters  Water Code Land management  Land Code  Law on Land Administration  Law on Land Valuation Forests  Forestry Code Animals and factories  Law on Protection and Use of Animals  Law on Protection and Use of Factories  Law on Factories Quarantine Health and safety  Law on Securing Sanitary and Epidemiological Safety of the Population  Law on Veterinary Medicine  Law on Salt Iodization  Law on Quality and Safety of Food  Law on Industrial Safety of Hazardous Installations  Law on Radiation Safety Waste and chemicals management  Law on Production and Consumption Waste  Law on Production and Safe Handling of Pesticides and Agrochemicals

10 These laws along with the Regulations approved by the GoT create a favorable legal framework for environmental protection in the country as well as for usage and protection of its natural resources.

27. Framework environment law. The framework environment law - Law on Nature Protection was adopted in 1993 and amended in 1996. The Law stipulates that Tajikistan's environmental policy should give priority to environmental actions based on scientifically proven principles to combine economic and other activities that have an impact on the environment with nature preservation and the sustainable use of resources. The Law defines the applicable legal principles, the protected objects, the competencies and roles of the Government, the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Forestry, the local authorities, public organizations and individuals. The Law stipulates also measures to secure public and individual rights to a safe and healthy environment and requires a combined system of ecological expertise and environmental impact assessment of any decision on an activity that could have a negative impact on the environment. The Law also defines environmental emergencies and ecological disasters and prescribes the order of actions in such situations, defines the obligations of officials and enterprises to prevent and eliminate the consequences, as well as the liabilities of the persons or organizations that caused damage to the environment or otherwise violated the Law. The Law establishes several types of controls over compliance with environmental legislation: State control, ministerial control, enterprise control and public control. State control is affected by the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Forestry, the Sanitary Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health, the Inspectorate for Industrial Safety and the Mining Inspectorate. Public control is carried out by public organizations or trade unions and can be exercised with respect to any governmental body, enterprise, entity or individual. The Law has also several articles related to agriculture. They regulate, for instance, the use of fertilizers and pesticides, the use of biological and chemical substances and protection against such contamination in food, soil protection and the rational use of land, and protection against pollution from livestock farms.

28. Water Code. The Water Code (2000) stipulates the policies on water management, permitting, dispute resolution, usage planning and cadastre. It promotes rational use and protection of water resources exercised by all beneficiaries and defines the types of water use rights, authority and roles of regional and local governments for water allocations among various users, collection of fees, water use planning, water use rights and dispute resolution. The Code delegates Water User Associations to operate and maintain on-farm irrigation and drainage infrastructure.

29. Land Code. The current Land Code (1992) defines the types of land use rights, the authority and the role of regional and local governments for land allocation, collection of land taxes, land use planning, land use right mortgaging and settlement of land disputes. It defines the rights of land users and lease holders, and also defines the use of a special land fund for the purpose of land privatization and farm restructuring. The law does not provide for purchase or sale of allotted land. The Land Code regulates land relations and it is directed at the rational “use and protection of land and fertility of the soil…7 .” The land may be used in a rational manner only and the Code allows local authorities to decide what constitutes “rational” land use. It includes also mechanisms that make it possible to take the land-use permit away from farmers, including in situations where land use causes land degradation. This decision is taken by the raion administration.

7 Land Code (1992)

11 30. Regulation of agrochemicals usage. Pesticides and fertilizers handling, use, transportation and storage are regulated by a number of legal documents (see table 4). Table 2. Laws and regulations related to agrochemicals usage in Tajikistan  Law on Nature Protection (1993);  Law on Ecological Expertise (2003);  Law on the Factories Quarantine Law (N5, 12.05.2001), of 2001, revised in 2003.  Law on Production and Safety Implications of Pesticides and Agro-chemicals law dated April 22, 2003.  The Decree on Factory Quarantine (N38, 4.02.2002) concerning creation of the Government Inspection (service) on factories quarantine of 2002.

31. The Law on Nature Protection indicates the necessity of applying the minimum permissible standards of agro-chemicals in agriculture and forestry to ensure compliance with the minimum permissible amounts in food, soil and water. The specially adopted law in the domain (Law on Production and Safety Implications of Pesticides and Agro-chemicals) prohibits use of biologically and environmentally persistent pesticides and products known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, embrio- and gonadotoxic in compliance with the International List of potentially toxic chemicals of the UN Environmental Program. This law also regulates distribution, use, and disposal of pesticides.

32. The Law on Ecological Expertise (2003) and the Resolution on the Establishment of the Commission for Chemical Safety (2003) set up the legal framework for the registration and use of pesticides and other chemicals. These substances and compounds should undergo mandatory State testing in laboratories and production (field) facilities to assess their biological, toxicological and environmental characteristics. If the testing results are positive, the substance or compound must be registered with the Commission for Chemical Safety and included in the List of Chemical Substances and Biological Compounds that are permitted for Use. The Commission manages the system of registration, testing and control of pesticides8. It is chaired by a deputy Prime Minister and includes representatives of, among others: the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Forestry, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture. A working group prepares the meetings of the Commission. The Commission approves a list of pesticides upon application from producers or distributors. A new list of chemicals is being prepared.

33. Quarantine9. In 2001, a technical review workshop on Union of Independent Governments (countries of former Soviet Union) and Baltic’s countries published data about quarantine and phytosanitary conditions in the countries of the former Soviet Union. The agreement about coordination in field of factories quarantine for indicated above countries was signed on November 13, 1992 in Moscow. In 1997 during the 6th Conference countries agreed to accept a unified list of pests to be quarantined, to common quarantine rules for import, export and transit of goods, and provide information data about distribution of pests on countries territory. Not much changed since then. In 2001 Government of Tajikistan enacted a Factories Quarantine Law (N5, 12.05.2001), and in 2002 – a decree on measures on factory quarantine (N38, 4.02.2002) – for Government Inspection (service) on factories quarantine.

8 UN Economic Commission for Europe: Tajikistan Environmental Performance review, 2004 http://www.unece.org/env/epr/studies/Tajikistan/welcome.htm 9 WB Tajikistan Community Agriculture and Watershed Management Project. (CAWMP), Pest Management Plan. 2004.

12 34. The qualifying requirements for physical and legal entities of the Republic of Tajikistan operating with application of the pesticides by aerosol and fumigation methods are10:  Application and handling are regulated in terms of the availability of special machinery and equipment for the pesticides application ensuring the safety and quality of chemical treatment;  the availability of special storages for the pesticides complying with the sanitary and epidemiologic rules and norms,  construction norms and rules,  requirements of fire safety;  compliance with environmental requirements,  sanitary and epidemiologic rules and norms,  safety and labor protection; individual protective facilities,  fire extinguishing equipment;  qualified staff with corresponding education and training having experience of practical work on the pesticides application by aerosol and fumigation methods. 35. For storage and disposal, special landfills are used to dispose expired and banned pesticides and their packaging. The state environmental control authority is responsible for issuing the permit to construct the landfills and neutralize the pesticides. Neutralization of the pesticides procured at the expense of the state budget is the responsibility of the MoA and local state authority (local budget). Legal and physical entities the activities of which are linked with the state phytosanitary control objects are obliged to neutralize the pesticides. However in Tajikistan there are only 2 sites formally approved by the State Committee for Environmental protection for storage or disposal of unused pesticides or their packaging in Vahksh and Konibodom. 36. International environmental treaties to which Tajikistan is a party. Tajikistan became party to a series of international treaties and in particular:

 Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure on September 28, 1998, ratification pending;  Signatory of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants on May 21, 2002, ratification pending;  Convention on Biological Diversity on 29 October 1997 and to its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on 12 May 2004;  Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1992);  The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (1997);  The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998);  The Ramsar Convention (2000); and  The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (2001).

Taking into consideration international treaties have the superiority under the national legislation, mentioned above Conventions constitute also a legal basis in the relevant areas of environmental protection in the country.

Legal framework for EA, environmental licensing and permitting

10 WB Tajikistan Farm Privatization Support Project (FPSP) Integrated Pest Management Plan, 2005

13 37. Basic EA Laws. There are two laws in the country that stipulate all aspects of the EA: (a) Law on Nature Protection; and (b) Law on Ecological Expertise. The Chapter V, Articles 33-37 of the Law on Nature Protection (1993), introduces the concept of state ecological review (literally, state ecological “expertise” – SEE) which seeks to examine the compliance of proposed activities and projects with the requirements of environmental legislation and standards and ecological security of the society. The mentioned laws stipulate the mandatory cross-sectoral nature of SEE, which shall be scientifically justified, comprehensive, and objective and which shall lead to conclusions in accordance with the law. SEE precedes decision-making about activities that may have a negative impact on the environment. Financing of programs and projects is allowed only after a positive SEE finding, or conclusion, has been issued. The following activities and projects subject to state ecological review: a) draft state programs, pre-planning, pre-project, and design documentation for economic development; b) regional and sectoral development programs; c) spatial and urban planning, development, and design; d) environmental programs and projects; e) construction and reconstruction of various types of facilities irrespective of their ownership; f) draft environmental quality standards and other normative, technology, and methodological documentation that regulates economic activities; g) existing enterprises and economic entities, etc. The laws stipulate that all types of economic and other activities shall be implemented in accordance with existing environmental standards and norms and shall have sufficient environmental protection and mitigation measures to prevent and avoid pollution and enhance environmental quality. The EA studies analyzing the short- and long-term environmental, genetic, economic, and demographic impacts and consequences shall be evaluated prior to making decisions on the siting, construction, or reconstruction of facilities, irrespective of their ownership. If these requirements are violated, construction will be terminated until necessary improvements are made, as prescribed by the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Forestry and/or other duly authorized control bodies, such as sanitary, geological, and public safety agencies.

38. Environmental Impact Assessment. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a component of the State Ecological Expertise, as set out in the 2002 amendments to the Environmental Protection Law and in the Law on the State Ecological Expertise (2003). The EIA is the responsibility of the project proponent. The State Ecological Expertise for all investment projects is the responsibility of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) and its regional offices. Furthermore, according to the 2003 Law on the State Ecological Expertise, all civil works, including rehabilitation, should be assessed for their environmental impacts and the proposed mitigation measures reviewed and monitored by the SCEPF.

39. Types of Ecological Expertise. According to the 2003 Law on Ecological Expertise, ecological expertise is intended to prevent negative impacts on the environment as a result of a proposed activity, forecast impacts from activities that are not considered as necessarily damaging to the environment and create databases on the state of the environment and knowledge about human impact on the environment. This Law and the Law on Nature Protection envisage two types of ecological expertise – State ecological expertise and public ecological expertise, which are not given equal importance. While State ecological expertise is a prerequisite for beginning any activity that may have an adverse environmental impact, public ecological expertise becomes binding only after its results have been approved by a State ecological expertise body. The State Ecological Expertise is authorized to invite leading scientists and qualified outside specialists to participate in the review. Approval should be issued within 45 days, unless the project developer agrees to an extension, and remains valid for two years, if the decision is positive.

14 40. Screening categories. The laws on Nature Protection and EE stipulate the Government will approve a list of activities for which the full Environmental Impact Assessment is mandatory. Currently there is no EIA categorization system in place and environmental impacts of mostly construction activities are reviewed on a case by case basis. According to the existing laws, the Project should not be required to prepare any EIA, however, as soon as the Project is approved, it will be necessary to consult with the CEP experts and receive further guidance on the SEE compliance requirements.

41. EA administrative framework. The Environmental Protection Law states that a SEE should be conducted by the Committee for Environmental Protection, which is designated as a duly authorized state environmental protection body. A small unit in the ministry is entrusted with guiding and managing both EIA and SEE. EIA preparation is the responsibility of the proponents of public- and private-sector projects, who, in addition to complying with various environmental standards, procedures, and norms, shall meet the standards of other sectors and environmental media line agencies, such as sanitary-epidemiological, geological, water, etc.

42. Public participation. Article 10 of the Nature Protection Law proclaims the right of citizens to live in a favorable environment and to be protected from negative environmental impacts. Citizens also have the right to environmental information (Article 12), as well as to participate in developing, adopting, and implementing decisions related to environmental impacts (Article 13). The latter is assured by public discussion of drafts of environmentally important decisions and public ecological reviews. Public representative bodies have an obligation to take into consideration citizens’ comments and suggestions. The Law on the EE also provides the rights to the citizens to conduct a Public Environmental Expertise (art. 21). On 17 July 2001 Tajikistan acceded to the 1998 Aarhus Convention, the provisions of which have priority over domestic law which also stipulates the rights for Public EE.

43. Licenses. Licenses are legal instruments to regulate certain potentially hazardous activities where minimal qualifications and strict adherence to rules are required to ensure that they are carried out efficiently, safely and do not result in potentially very significant and irreparable damage to the environment and human health11. In particular, licenses are required for handling hazardous waste; for activities in industrial safety, sources of ionizing radiation, production and handling of pesticides and other agrochemicals. They are issued by the relevant industry regulator (ministry or committee) or an entity to which it has delegated such right. Licensing is also used to ensure the most efficient and sustainable use of natural resources. For example, licenses are required for prospecting, collecting or extracting mineral resources, or for constructing underground facilities not related to mining.

44. Environmental permits. Permits are meant to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources. There are two types of permits: (a) permits to use natural resources; and, (b) permits for emissions or discharges. The natural resources use permits allow their holders to take a certain number or amount of a particular natural resource within a defined territory and time period. They are issued both to individuals (e.g. to hunt a particular species of animal or harvest particular factories) and to organizations (e.g. permits to extract ground or surface water for a particular use). By law, permits are needed for any commercial use of any resource. The authority that issues the permit and the legislation (government resolution) that applies depend on the resource. Permits to discharge polluted matter are issued by the relevant inspectorate (e.g. State Water Inspectorate or State Air Inspectorate) of the State Committee’s local environmental

11 United Nations Economic and Social Council. Environmental Performance Review of Tajikistan. First Review, 2004. (see: www.unece.org/env/epr/studies/Tajikistan/welcome.htm)

15 protection committees to industrial or agricultural enterprises and municipal utilities that release by-products into the environment. The permits allow releasing a certain amount of polluted matter (gases, liquids, solid waste) into the environment. The permits are normally granted for one year and indicate the maximum allowed concentration of the pollutants in the released matter, the maximum volume of the polluted matter and the pollutants allowed.

45. Environmental norms and standards. Norms are set for air and water pollution, noise, vibration, magnetic fields and other physical factors, as well as residual traces of chemicals and biologically harmful microbes in food. The exceeding of their thresholds results in administrative action, including financial sanctions. Several ministries determine environmental quality standards, each in its field of responsibility. For example, admissible levels of noise, vibration, magnetic fields and other physical factors have been set by the Ministry of Health.

46. Implementation and compliance. A number of legal acts establish liability for violations of environmental laws, which can be enforced by several State bodies. In particular, the 1998 Code of Administrative Violations establishes administrative liability for organizations, their officers and individuals for a range of violations, from the careless treatment of land to violation of the rules for water use or water protection or failure to comply with a State ecological expertise. The administrative sanctions for environment related violations can be imposed by the administrative commissions of hukumats, courts, the Environment protection Committee’s inspectors, the Veterinary Inspectors of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Agency for Land Management, Geodesy and Cartography. The most common administrative sanction is a fine of up to 10 minimal monthly salaries for individuals and up to 15 minimal salaries to officers of organizations. The 1998 Criminal Code covers crimes against ecological safety and the environment, such as violations of ecological safety at work, poaching, and spoiling land, violation of rules for the protection and use of underground resources. The maximum fine is up to 2,000 minimal monthly salaries and the maximum sentence is up to eight years in prison.

(b) World Bank Environmental Policy and Environmental Assessment Requirements

47. The World Bank requires environmental assessment (EA) of projects proposed for Bank financing to help ensure that they are environmentally sound and sustainable, and thus improve decision making (OP 4.01, January 1999). EA is a process whose breadth, depth, and type of analysis depend on the nature, scale, and potential environmental impact of the proposed project. EA evaluates a project's potential environmental risks and impacts in its area of influence; examines project alternatives; identifies ways of improving project selection, silting, planning, design, and implementation by preventing, minimizing, mitigating, or compensating for adverse environmental impacts and enhancing positive impacts; and includes the process of mitigating and managing adverse environmental impacts throughout project implementation. The Bank favors preventive measures over mitigation or compensatory measures, whenever feasible.

49. EA takes into account the natural environment (air, water, and land); human health and safety; social aspects (involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples, and cultural property); and trans- boundary and global environmental aspects. It also takes into account the variations in project and country conditions; the findings of country environmental studies; national environmental action plans; the country's overall policy framework, national legislation, and institutional capabilities related to the environment and social aspects; and obligations of the country, pertaining to project activities, under relevant international environmental treaties and agreements. The Bank does not finance project activities that would contravene such country obligations, as identified during the EA.

16 50. The Project has been assigned World Bank environmental category B, since it involves moderate indirect environmental impacts that can be managed during implementation of the project. The EA process for the project is addressed through this EMP. Key considerations and methodology are taken into account during the EA process includes:

 Generic initial screening to determine appropriate environmental assessment;  Compliance with existing environmental regulations in Tajikistan;  Taking into consideration the economic and social evaluations (in the light of their linkage to the environmental concerns);  Analysis of significant expected impacts, balancing positive and negative effects and assessment of realistic alternatives;  Public participation and consultation with affected people, organisations and stakeholders; and  Disclosure of information.

IV. Project description

51. Project objective. The objective of the project is to increase domestic food production and reduce the loss of livestock to help at least 28,000 poorest households in a timely manner to reduce the negative impact of high and volatile food prices. This objective will be realized with the provision of agricultural inputs to the poorest farmers and female-headed households, to support their immediate food security as well as to recover their production losses and livelihoods. Different households will be targeted for each assistance package.

52. Project activities. The project will be composed of three components: (i) Support for Agricultural Inputs – a seed and fertilizer distribution component, (ii) Improvement of Livestock Health and Husbandry; and (iii)Project Management. Component A: Support for Agricultural Inputs (US$2.7 million equivalent). This component would support the FA0 administered program providing agricultural inputs in Tajikistan. The support would be provided in standard packages composed of high quality seed for winter wheat and fertilizer. These inputs need to be distributed at the latest by October of this year, in time for the winter planting season. The import of higher yielding wheat varieties would help farmers to take advantage of fall rains in raising a successful winter crop. As demonstrated by the similar (drought) emergency package supplied back in 2001, it may also help boost the country’s wheat yields and improve food security in the medium term. It is roughly estimated that a package valued at some US$80 per household would be sufficient for supporting winter wheat production of some 28,000 families. Eligibility for the assistance would be governed by criteria to be agreed among the Bank, the GOT and the FAO. Similarly, the procurement, transport and distribution of the seed and fertilizer would be organized by FA0 and contracted with international NGOs that have the logistics in place to deliver these packages to farm families in accordance with the terms and subject to controls to be documented in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Tajikistan and the FAO. Component B: Improvement of Livestock Health and Husbandry (US$1.80 million equivalent). As above, this component will support the FA0 administered program aimed at improving livestock health and husbandry. The funding under this component would support the purchase of a package of seeds of fodder crops (alfala) and fertilizers.

Component C Project Management (US$ 500,000 equivalent and not exceeding 10% of the total amount of the project) will be allocated for project management costs incurred by FAO. This

17 funding will also cover expenses such as program audit, the hiring of additional specialists, as well as training farmers, and monitoring and evaluation.

V Baseline Environmental Analysis12

As mentioned above, the project will be implemented in two regions of the country: Khatlon and Rasht valley districts. Below it is presented a short description of their geographic and socio- economic characteristics.

A. Khatlon Region

53 Project geographic location. Khatlon region is located in South Tajikistan and is one of the most populated regions of the country. It has a territory of 24.8 thous. sq.km and covers two agro- climatic areas – Vakhsh and Kulyab, which are characterized by high temperatures and long-term frost-free period. The amount of annual precipitation varies from 400 to 600 mm per year. Average air temperature in July is + 30-320С, the maximum is up to +480С. Average month temperature in January is positive. The frost-free period lasts here about 250-260 days per year.

54. Land resources. Total area of Khatlon oblast is 24,8 thousand km2. This is the prime cotton area of Tajikistan, producing a third of its production as highly valued long fiber cotton. Horticultural crops include a large variety of garden vegetables, okra pumpkin, maize, tomato, potato, onions, beans, peas, persimmon, lemon, date, and pomegranate trees, as well as some pear and apple trees in the higher elevations. Livestock is prevalent throughout the area, in the form of ruminants (mostly cows and sheep) and small-scale poultry. There is no real fodder production, animals graze randomly along canals, roads, and meadows and live off crop residues in late fall/winter/early spring. Total area of irrigated lands in Khatlon oblast is 13582 ha and the cotton area is 9983,17 ha. Soils are presented mainly by grey-brown serozems (gray soils), typical serozems and salted soils.

55. Land degradation. Due to deforestation, improper irrigation and excessive use of agricultural lands combined with unregulated chemical inputs the region’s land resources are affected by several environmental problems.

(a). Salinization. One of the biggest problems in Khatlon region is exhaustion and degradation of irrigated lands due to poor water and other management practices in agriculture. In Khatlon, about 50 percent of the area is gravity-fed and the remaining areas are dependent upon lift irrigation systems (pumping water up to 200 m high), particularly in Yavan. These areas depend upon water which is pumped from weirs off the Kumsangir, Vaksh and Yavansu rivers. Most of the principal irrigation and drainage infrastructure is in danger of collapse. The system now manifests a rapid deterioration in operating efficiency of pumping stations, increased losses in the main canals and low water use efficiency at the field level. The lack of adequate drainage has exacerbated the problem of rising water table and secondary salinization necessitating expensive emergency interventions. According to Table 2 (see above), in Khatlon region in 2004 3,546 ha of arable land (including 2,358 ha of irrigated land) were abandoned because of increased salinization, water logging and reduced soil fertility.

MIWR 2000 data on the extent of salinity and water logging are given in Table 5

Table 3 Condition of irrigated land, 2000 (’000 ha) 12 This section contains a general description of environmental and social and economic situation in the Khatlon region while the detailed description of the project rayons is provided in Annex 1.

18 Oblast/zones Condition of irrigated land Unsatisfactory by cause Oblast/Rayon Good Satis- Unsatis- High Salinity Both factory factory ground water Khatlon Qurghonteppa 50 21.9 7.4 6.2 0.9 0.3 Kulob 149.1 44.2 44.2 25.0 15.1 4.1 a Monitoring for these data was carried out on irrigated fields (furrows, etc.) and excludes house plots. The area monitored was about 690,000ha out of a total of 720,000ha. Source: MWRLR, ASAP.2001

(b) Wind/water erosion. Large areas of agricultural lands in the region are affected y soil erosion. Because of strong winds Khatlon region belongs to areas with a high degree of wind erosion (especially in Shahrituz, Kumsangir rayons) and, water erosion(Yavan rayon) 13. About 30 thousand ha of arable lands in Khatlon region were destroyed (washed up) because of erosion, silting of river bed and as consequences the destructions of dams. More than 8 thousand affected ha of Yavan valley provides an almost textbook example of the power of erosion caused by poor design of the system and non-observance of irrigation rules. Inappropriate irrigation ditches, poor techniques of water distribution, application of too much water resulting in filtration losses and land slips are among the observed outcomes.

(c). Water logging. Poor water management and an under performing drainage infrastructure causes water logging problems. The region also faces problems caused by over watering and its impact on soil fertility. Currently, collection and drainage networks cover less than half of the total irrigated land. As a result, about 15 percent of irrigated lands are over-saturated every year. It concentrates salts, drawn up from lower in the soil profile, in the factories' rooting zone.

56. Water resources. There are several river basins in the Khatlon region, the main of them are Vakhsh river basin and Pyandj river basin. Vakhsh river water-collecting area is 39100 km2. Its length is 690 km, and water discharge can be more then 3600 m3/sec. The average annual runoff is 22,1 км3. Water resources quality in Khatlon region is regularly and considerably affected by floods, mudslides and slope denudation processes (soil erosion). The total volume of water resources used in Khatlon oblast was 5513,7 mln.m3/year (2005), the 4035,1 mln. m3/year - for agriculture purposes. Actually there were used 4052,8 mln.m3/year on Vakhsh river basin, and 1460,9 mln.m3/year – on Pyandj river basin.

57. Biodiversity. In the region there are several protected areas. In particular one nature reserve is placed along the Vakhsh river delta (Tigrovaya Balka), in Southern Tajikistan and characterized by tugai forests along the Vakhsh and Panj rivers. The second nature reserve (Dashtijum) also placed along the Panj river, has populations of markhor, snow leopard and Siberian ibex, fauna representatives included in the country’s Red Book. The nature reserve “Karatau” located in Farkhor rayon was founded in 1972 and occupies 14.4 thousand hectares. Its territory includes west slope and watershed of Karatau mountain ridge from 700 to 1500 m altitude above sea level. The main task of the reserve is to preserve ecosystems of ephemeral factories and natural almond and pistachio sparse growth of trees. Xerophyte’s sparse growth of trees of Karatau is a unique one in the republic because many of trees here are older than 600 years and the height of the trees reaches 7 meters, at that the trees still bear fruit well. The pistachio forests of Karatau are typical places for rare kinds of wild animals such as striped hyena, gazelles and urial. 13 Atlas of Tajik SSR, 1968

19 58. Forests. Since 1950s in the country more than 300,000 ha of native tugai (Populus pruinosa, Elaeagnus angustifolia) forests have been converted to farming or destroyed mostly in the lower elevations of Kulyab zone, Vakhsh valley and along the banks of Syr Darya in Sugd leaving only islands of such vegetation in places such as Tigrovaya Balka zapovednik (protected area). Pressures on forests come from cattle grazing, farming, and uncontrolled logging to meet domestic wood consumption. Forest resources comprise such species as Salix turanica, Hippophae rhamnoides, Populus tadshinistaca and some species of Betula. There are many animal species of tugai complex are represented in Khatlon region as gazelle, Servus bucharica, Phasianus colchicus, Ammoperadix griseogularis, Milvus korshun, Coturnix coturnix, Alectornis graeca, several species of jerboa, and others.

59. Environmental pollution. Outside of the major environmental problems described above, the region suffers also from inadequate industrial and domestic solid waste collection and dumping infrastructure, and contaminated drinking water14. The results of recent water quality analysis show an alarming level of chemical and bacteriological contaminants (47.3 percent and 54.7 percent, respectively) in samples of water used for drinking and irrigation15. The heavy dependence on agriculture in Khatlon, and the subsequent exposure to chemicals involved in farming, has a negative impact on health in the region. In addition, the incidence of disease is significantly higher in areas of irrigated agriculture where water consumption for the local population comes primarily from ditches in the village.

60. Fertilizers and pesticide usage; pollution of drainage waters. Before independence (1991), use of pesticides was rather intensive, with a mean annual application of 24.1 kg per ha, mostly on cotton fields. The highest levels of pesticide application have been recorded in Vakhsh Valley where it reached 48 kg per ha. But due to the collapse of the Soviet agriculture system and the civil war there was drastic reduction in the use of pesticides in Khatlon oblast as in the entire country. Furthermore, there is a shortage of institutional capacity to collect and maintain statistics of pesticide use. The total mineralization on drainage waters was higher than MAC.

61. Population and socio-economic conditions. Khatlon region has a population of 2.3 million people, or about one third of the national figure. The vast majority of its residents live in rural areas, about 1.9 million people versus about 400 thousand urban settlers. Even if one excludes the capital city Dushanbe, population density is the highest in the country, 92.5 people/sq km. The region also has the largest portion of irrigated lands in the country, approximately 45 percent, of which 34 percent are located in the area surrounding the regional administrative capital of Kurgan Tube, and 11 percent are in the Kulyab zone. The region’s industry is presented by 165 enterprises. The district’s production ratio is 25.8% of the total industrial production of the republic. The Khatlon region hosts a few large industrial complexes: the Vakhsh Azot Fertilizer factory, the Yavan chemical enterprise, as well as a complex for chemical herbicide entombment.

B Baseline analysis for Rasht valley

62. Project geografic location. The Rasht valley is located in central part of Tajikistan and is an administrative and geographic unit of Tajikistan comprising the five districts of Jirgital, Rasht, Tavildara, Tajikabad and Nurabad. The amount of annual precipitation varies from 400 to 800- 1200 mm per year. In spite of high altitude, the climate is mild. The annual average temperature

14 National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) of the Republic of Tajikistan. Governmental Decision No. from June, 2006 Ibidem. 15 National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) of the Republic of Tajikistan. Governmental Decision No. from June , 2006

20 is 10oC. In the summer (July) the average temperature is about 23oC, and in the winter (January), it is below 4oC. Sometimes the summer temperature reaches 38oC, but in the winter it reduces to below 25oC.

63. Land resources. The total area is about is 17,055 km2. 23,000 hectares of lands are irrigated, 308,000 - rain fed. The irrigation is also unique. The canals are short and they are usually laid along the steep slopes. On irrigated lands people are growing potatoes, tobacco plants, cucumbers, tomatoes, lucerne, etc. Along most of the valley slopes and ridges non-irrigated agriculture is possible. Mountain relief and exposure of slopes create different conditions for growing and developing horticulture in the river valleys. Soils are presented mainly by typical mountainous brown soils, high-mountainous meadow-steppe soils, and typical and light serozymes.

64. Land degradation. As in case with Khatlon region lands due to deforestation, improper irrigation and excessive use of agricultural lands, construction of roads without engineering expertise the region’s land resources are affected by several environmental problems – deforestation, desertification, erosion, mudslides, emergency situations and etc.16 The desertification process has affected the entire inhabitable high-mountain area depriving people of gas, coal, kerosene, and electricity, which have led to further destruction of forests in mountainous areas. Lack of flour in some settlements has led to planting of cereal crops on sloping lands. As a result, fertile soil has been eroded, resulting in pollution of reservoirs and increased mud and rock flow.

65 Water resources. There are several river basin in Rasht valley – Surkhob, Obihingou, Kamarou. The main of them is Surkhob basin. Tables 4 below show the characteristics of the Sourkhob’s tributary rivers. Tributary river valleys of the Sourkhob are closed from east and west by huge mountain ridges, but the valleys are open from the south and thus receive warm wet winds.

Table 4. Main Characteristics of Surkhob River Basin in Rasht valley

Rivers Characteristics Kizilsou Mou-kou Kok- Yar- Yasman Sorbog Sangikor sou khich Source Glacial-snow nutrition Length (km) 254 88 11 48 30 81 42 Basin Area (km2) 8380 7070 1290 1170 208 1780 291 Altitude Above Sea Level (m): 3800 2714 1823 3309 3400 3580 3400  Source 1835 1835 1705 1570 1568  End 1246 1242 Average Slope (%) 7.7 10 9.6 36.2 61 28.8 51.4 Soil Erosion Degree Average Average Ave- Ave-rage Average Average Average and strong and strong rage and and and strong and strong and strong water water strong strong water water water erosion erosion water water erosion erosion erosion ero-sion erosion Annual Solid 380 2200 600-800 600-800 600-800 600-800 600-800 Runoff (ton/km2) Suspended 2.0-4.0 2.0-4.0 2.0-4.0 2.0-4.0 2.0-4.0 2.0-4.0 2.0-4.0

16 National Action Plan on Combat with desertification in Tajikistan. Government of Tajikistan, 2000.

21 Substances (gram/liter) Type of Soils Typical brown mountain soils, typical sierozyom, stone soils Stone and Stone and less stone less stone soils soils Irrigation Small plots irrigation Latin names of plants – Populus pruinosa, Elaeagnus angustifa, Tamarix laxa, Tamarix Vegetation hispida, Phragmites communis , Salix turanica, S.iranica, Populus tadshikistanica, Betula procurva, Betula tadshikistanica, Juniperus turkestanica, Juniperus.seravshanica, Juniperus semigloboca, Festuca sulcata, Elytrigia trichopora, Prangos pabularia, Amygdalus bucharica, Pistacia vera, Calophaca grandiflora, Certis griffithii, Rosa kokanica, Acer turkestanicum, Juglans regia, Artemisia dracunculus, Adonis turkestanicus, Artemimisia lehmanniana, Artemisia korshinsky, Artemisia sogdiana, Artemisia cina, Acantholimon pamiticum, Stipa turkestanica, Calamagrostis pseudophragmites, Prangos pabularia, Ferula jaeschkeana, Polygonum coriarium, Ligularia thomsonii, Cousinia stephanofora, Cousinia franchetii, Cousinia pannosa Agricultural Crops Cereal Crops, Walnut-Plants, potato Moisture Sufficient for cereal crops. Precipitation, mm 200-400 400-800 200-400 400-800 400-800 400-800 400-800 Air Temperature in July, оC 20-28 8-20 20-28 20-28 20-28 20-28 20-28 Air Temperature in January оC 8-12 12-16 12-16 12-16 12-16 12-16 12-16 River Capacity (thousand kilowatts) 244 550 Runoff (liter/second 20-25 20-30 15-35 15-35 15-35 40-50 40-50 km2)

66. Biodiversity. There are many forests of walnuts, wild fruit trees, maples, and conifer trees. On the higher mountains (above 3000 m) there are sub-alpine and alpine pastures, with much nutritious grass. The 40% of area of Tavildara and Jirgatal districts which are in Rash valley is part of Tajik National Park (TNP). The purpose of creation the TNP is conservation of valuable landscape complexes, rare and disappearing species of flora and fauna, natural, cultural and historical monuments, developing and ordering of tourism and also rational uses of natural resources. The typical vegetation is described above in Table 1. There are wild boar, snow leopard, and brown bear, partridges, golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus), ringdove (Columba palumbus), big turtledove (Streptopelia orientalis), hoopoe (Upupa epops), whistling thrush (Myophonus caeruleus) and other. Zakaznik Kamarou settles down on Karategin ridge on the left coast of the river Kamarou at its confluence into the Sorbog river. The purpose of the creation is conservation of Tyan-Shyan bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) which is rare specie and entered into Red Book of Tajikistan. The fauna is also represented by lynx (Felis lynx isabellina), fox (Vulpes vulpes), wolf (Canis lupus), otter (Lutra lutra) and siberian wild mountain goat (Capra sibirica). Fish – trout (Salmo trutta oxianis), marinka (Schizothorax intermedious). Vegetation is represented by rosaries, maple (Acer sp.), coniferous forests (Juniperas sp.) with Prangos sp.17

67. Forests. The region of Rasht valley is the richest by forests among other regions of Tajikistan. The forest here in belt from 100on the left cost of the river 0 till 2000 m above sea level are represented mostly by different kinds of walnut, maple, poplar, sea-buckthorn (Hippophaл gen.), almond, birch, hawthorn (Crataegus), cherry-plum, apricot, apple trees and different shrub vegetation. The belt of vegetation till 3000 m a.s.l. is represented by coniferous forests.

17 Natural Protected Areas of the Republic of Tajikistan. CAREC, published under support of EU, 2006

22 67. Population and socio-economic conditions. Rasht zone of districts has a population of 390786 thousand people. Though once a provider of rich fruits and potatoes in Tajikistan and beyond, production in the Valley dropped during the war, and declined even after the peace due to the destruction of livelihoods and the infrastructure to support them. With petty trade predominant, a recovery to pre-war production levels has yet to occur. Vital for any economy is connectivity. However, access to markets, within the Valley to Dushanbe and beyond, has been hampered by poor roads, bridges and a dearth of information. With dilapidated phone lines, limited power supply and no other means of communication, producers and suppliers and the markets they service are disconnected, resulting in slow growth and innovation. The Rasht valley is an area with the highest rate of labor migration in Tajikistan. 90% of the population is engaged in agriculture. Access to electricity limited to 3 hours per day in the winter. Most of the mountain villages are small. The biggest settlements consist of 50 to 80 households. More often there are 15-20 households, but sometimes there are villages which consist of 5-6 households. Usually villages are situated on valley terraces, slopes of rivers, and the flatter plains. Due to lack of agricultural equipment, fuel, and oil, the plain slopes are cultivated by horse plow and harvested by sickle.

VI. Potential environmental impacts

68. Determination of impacts. Potential environmental and social impacts for the project were identified, considering the environmental components that are likely to be affected by the proposed activities. The impacts were collectively identified through contributions and participation of the key stakeholders, particularly the farmers. The summary of project potential adverse environmental impacts which includes: (i) main issues; (ii) anticipated/potential environmental and social (health) impacts, (iii) their effect on the environment and human health; and (iv) the scale of the impacts is presented in the Annex 1, and was used to confirm the impacts identified through the public consultations.

69. Focus of impact analysis. The EA in particular has to be focused on the analysis of the following risks: (a) given that most wheat is currently grown on steep lands, the additional sowing of wheat on these lands may potentially increase soil erosion as opposed to leaving them in pasture; (b) the provision of improved seed varieties, while having a beneficial impact on production, may potentially lead to less seed diversity which may displace local genetic diversity (adapted landraces of crops) and potential increases in susceptibility to pests and diseases; and (d) support to livestock production and the resultant decrease in mortality rates may increase grazing intensity and add possibly exacerbate overgrazing of pastures near settlements after the project intervention.

70. Significance of the potential impacts. Activities under the project are not expected to generate significant adverse environmental effects as they are focusing largely on agricultural inputs supply. The project will not involve any construction requiring resettlement or land acquisition, nor invest in the activities that would allow increased water abstraction from main sources. The potential impacts will be mostly positive. Potential adverse impacts will be minor and could be easily managed by implementing a series of avoidance activities.

71. Positive impacts. From the assessment, the identified positive impacts of the project include: (a) increased food security; (b) increased household income for the smallholder farmers, due to higher agricultural productivity; (c) improved nutritional status of the farmers due to increased agricultural production; (d) improved farmer skills from trainings in technologies, seed breeding, fertilizer use and land conservation; (e) increased opportunity for engagement in other income generating activities or small scale businesses by smallholder farmers due to increased food

23 security for the households. The project activities, in funding the assistance packages, will greatly improve household food security by: (i) reducing adverse social consequences in terms of aggravating poverty and relying excessively on relief food supplies in 2008-2009; (ii) reallocating cotton land to cereal production would also help restore soil fertility thereby reversing a trend caused by over-cropping cotton; and (iii) minimizing the scope for the continuing distress sales of livestock by the poorest households. Emergency support for livestock production is also consistent with this objective if it allows farmers to preserve their existing livestock resources until current feed resources improve. Cereal production will increase farm incomes considerably, alleviating rural poverty and enhancing ability to produce food.

72. Adverse environmental impacts. An increase in agricultural inputs supply and an improvement of farmers financial situation might have a series of negative indirect impacts generated by: (a) potential land degradation in the case of cultivation of agricultural crops on the step slopes as well as pollution and siltation of lakes and rivers; (b) increase in usage agrochemicals that might cause environmental pollution that would affect wildlife; and (c) negative impacts on the health of farmers in the case of inappropriate agrochemicals handling. The volume of seeds to be provided will not represent any varietal risk, since the area sown from these seeds will represent less than 10% of agricultural areas involved in the project.

VII. Analysis of Alternatives to the Proposed Project.

73. Considered alternatives. The project team has analyzed several alternatives in the project design, including that of no intervention. Just as with the project, the alternative of “no project” would not have significant environmental impacts. The social risks, however, could be significant, especially for those most exposed to low food stocks. The project takes advantage of the field expertise FAO has gained worldwide with similar operations. In its current design, the potential risks involved are mitigated by the implementation of the activities by a UN agency with years of experience in delivering advisory services, as well as seed material and livestock services to rural populations.

VIII Mitigation Measures

73. Mitigation of environmental impact. Annex 2 presents the Environmental Management Matrix which stipulates the summary of the main potential impacts on the environment and on the health of farmers, along with the proposed mitigation measures. Potential adverse impacts will be mitigated primarily through information dissemination, capacity building and avoidance activities. In this regard the EMP contains: (a) safety measures for handling treated seeds and fertilizers. Environmental concerns with distribution of the seed material and fertilizer are related to the possibility that the seed material might be used for consumption. The seed material procured under this trust fund will be in accordance with International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center CIMMYT quality standards for grain seeds. Seed material that has been treated with agro-chemicals will be dyed and will contain a repellent and/or emetic to prevent use of the seed material for consumption. The training (which will be provided as part of the assistance packages) will ensure that local populations are informed of the meaning of these dyes, and the repellents to avoid ingestion of possibly treated seed material; (b) information dissemination and training activities concerning safe handling of treated seeds and fertilizers for the involved participants – farmers, local and district authorities; and, (c) an outline of a training program on sustainable land use practices, including information about full implications of mono- culture on soil fertility, land degradation and crops quality. The trainings are aimed at minimizing the potential impacts of supplied seed and fertilizer packages and should ensure that there will be no wastes in the result of their usage, that transport and handling, as well as application, are made

24 in a safe and effective manner. In addition it is also proposed the trainings will be attended by the state ecological inspectors, which are responsible for enforcing the national regulations at the local level.

74. Safety measures for treated seed usage and handling. Although the chemically treated seeds have important benefits, they also pose certain risks associated with accidental expose of environment and of farmers during their inappropriate handling and usage. These risks can be minimized by providing relevant training on proper use of seed treatment pesticides. The following recommendations contain main safety requirements in this regard.

75. General remarks. The treated seeds should be handled with care. Product labels must provide information on safe their handling and application. The seeds users always should read the label and follow instructions precisely. The label also should provide the applicator with information about first aid, potential environmental hazards, as well as for their use and proper storage. The treated seed users must also strictly follow the personal safety measures, described below.

76. Treated seeds label. Treated seeds must be associated with a label which contains the following information:  Warning statement; such as Danger—Keep out of Reach of Children or Poison— Handle With Care;  Type of seed and treatment rate;  Kinds of pests controlled;  Safety precautions in handling and use of treated seed;  Disclaimer or warranty clause;  Mixing instructions;  Compatibility remarks;  Antidotes;  A caution statement if the substance used in the treatment in the amount remaining with seed is harmful to humans or wildlife.  Procedure to follow in case of an accident. and  The name, address, and phone number of a responsible party to contact in case of problems In presenting this information should be taken into consideration the following: (a) the information should be in type no smaller than 8 points indicating that the seed has been treated; (b) only the commonly accepted, coined, chemical or abbreviated chemical (generic) and name of the applied substance and rate of application should be used; (c) seed treated with a “restricted use” toxic substance shall be labeled as “poison treated” in red.

77. Treated Seed. Treated seeds storage and handling requirements include the following:  Must be stored in a dry, well ventilated location separate from untreated seed;  Should never be stored in bulk storage bins that might also be used for edible grain storage;  Be stored in special multiwall (3- or 4-ply) or tightly woven bags. Some polyethylene or foil-lined bags are also good containers for treated seed;  Make sure seed is thoroughly dry before bagging, as excessive moisture can cause rapid deterioration of the seed;  Clearly label the seed (as described above) to indicate the type of seed treatment;  Strictly prohibit their usage for food, feed, or oil purposes;  Must be planted at an agronomically acceptable seeding rate;

25  Surface treated seeds application without incorporation present a hazard to humans and animals and is illegal.  Careful planning of the quantity of seed is essential, since disposal of treated seed may be a problem. One solution is to plant any unwanted seed and then disk it after it emerges if you do not want the crop. Otherwise, treated seed may have to be disposed of as a solid waste.  Planter hoppers should be filled outdoors.

78. Personal Safety. It is always necessary to use caution when handling treated seeds and remember that exposure to seed treatment pesticides may cause a wide range of acute and chronic toxic reactions in people. When handling seed treatment pesticides:  Read and become familiar with the label for each pesticide that you use. Make certain that these documents are readily available at all times, and refer to them in the event of an accident;  Avoid inhaling pesticide dust or vapor, and always protect skin and eyes from exposure;  Use proper protective equipment recommended by the pesticide label. Consider wearing goggles, rubber gloves, and a rubber apron, even when the product label does not specifically require it;  Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling treated seed and before eating or smoking;  In case of exposure, immediately remove any contaminated clothing and wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water;  When using large amounts of seed, change clothing frequently enough to avoid buildup of pesticides;  No matter how tired you may be, shower immediately after work and change all clothing.  Wash clothing thoroughly (separate from the family wash) before reuse.  The distributing of treated seeds personnel must be provided with protective clothing such as (a) coveralls, (b) cap, (c) protective glasses, (d) rubber apron, (e) rubber boots, (f) rubber gloves, and (g) respirator designed for use with the material. A safety shower should be installed in the immediate vicinity of the seeds distribution place.  The distribution places of seeds should be isolated and not operated in the vicinity of other personnel or farm commodities that are to be used for food, feed or oil.  Do not run contaminated water into stream or public sewer, but discharge into a shallow ground pit. 79. Hazards associated with the disposal of unused treated seed and empty treated seed containers. In order to avoid any hazards in these cases it is necessary to respect the following rules:  Do not reuse empty treated seed containers and bags.  Destroy them and low germinating seed by mutilation and burying at least 50 cm deep in an isolated area away from water supplies.

80. Safety measures for mineral fertilizers usage and handling. Similarly as in the case of treated seeds, fertilizers usage may provide important benefits, they also pose certain risks associated with accidental expose of environment and of farmers during their inappropriate handling and usage. To avoid adverse environmental impacts while using mineral fertilizers it is necessary to comply strictly with a series of requirements, stipulated in the existing legal documents as well as in the fertilizers Guidelines for their handling. The rules and procedures of production, storage, transportation and usage of the mineral fertilizers are reflected in a relatively small number of documents, and most of them were adopted at the time of the USSR. The main stipulations of these documents with regard to environmental and health safety issues are

26 presented in the Annex 4. The numeration of the articles and points in each normative act is similar to the original document.

81. Main requirements. The usage of different mineral fertilizers should be done depending on such factors as type and quality of the soil, type of the crop, system of crop rotation, weather and climate conditions, ways and terms of their application. To ensure this, information dissemination and training activities will be conducted under the project (see point 85). At the same time, a series of requirements of proper fertilizers handling should be enforced.

82. Provisions with regard to fertilizers storage:

 Keep stocks of fertilizers, and soil amendment materials to the minimum required.  Ensure that the storage facility is appropriately secured.  Fertilizers and soil amendment materials are not to be stored in contact with ground surfaces.  Storage areas/facilities are to weather-proofed and able to exclude runoff from other areas.  Do not store in close proximity to heat sources such as open flames, steam pipes, radiators or other combustible materials such as flammable liquids.  Do not store with urea.  Do not contaminate fertilizers, and soil amendment materials with other foreign matter.  In case of fire flood the area with water.  If augers are used to move the material ensure that any residue(s) in the immediate area is cleaned up.  Dispose of empty bags in the appropriate manner.

83. Provisions with regard to fertilizers field usage:

 Keep fertilizer amounts to a minimum and covered to avoid unnecessary expose to open air.  Keep spreaders and air seeders that are left in the field overnight covered.  Cover spreader and air seeders between jobs.  Ensure that the drill, air seeder and/or fertilizer box is completely empty at the end of each day. If the drill, air seeder and/or fertilizer box cannot be fully emptied fill to capacity prior to storage for the night.  Do not store dry urea with dry ammonium nitrate.

84. Ensuring minimization of hazards associated with inappropriate handling and usage of fertilizers:

The Table 5 below provides information about typical hazard scenarios that that may arise in conjunction with the procurement, handling and storage of fertilizers as well as the recommended measures to control the potential risks.

Table 5. Typical hazard scenarios and recommended measures

Likely Hazard Recommended Control Strategy Scenario Spillage  Ensure all storage areas and/or facilities are secure and appropriate.

27  Ensure all fertilizer products can be contained within the storage area and/or facility selected  Provide appropriate equipment and materials to clean up a spillage Transportation and  Cover any loads of fertilizer products whilst in transit delivery of goods  Ensure that deliveries of fertilizer products are made at appropriate times  Do not accept any containers of fertilizer products that are damaged and/or leaking  Ensure that any spillages that occur during delivery are cleaned up appropriately. Drift of dust from  Keep fertilizer products covered and/or sealed storage areas and/or  Clean up spillages promptly facilities  Keep “in use” stocks to the minimum required  Staff responsible for storage areas and/or facilities to will ensure that the drift of dust beyond the perimeter is kept to a minimum. Storage areas -  Keep floor surfaces swept clean of fertilizer to prevent tracking by people Floors and/or vehicles beyond the perimeter.  Sweep up and dispose of spillages in a timely and appropriate manner Cross contamination  Keep each fertilizer product will in a separate storage container of product and/or position within the facility and/or area. Confusion of Product  Maintain an accurate storage manifest/register.  Keep products and blends are segregated at all times.  Ensure all storage bays and bins are clearly labeled.  Ensure all storage, loading and blending plant and equipment is cleaned from all residues when changing from one product to another.  Do not store product in bags that are not correctly stamped Occupational Health  Contact between fertilizer products, people and livestock will be and Safety minimized. Risk Assessments  Risk Assessments are required to be conducted on the procurement, storage and handling of fertilizer products. Contact with people  Managers will develop, implement and monitor the effectiveness of and livestock hazard management procedures  All persons using fertilizer products are to adhere to the hazard management procedures and adopt safe working practice and ensure that direct contact with fertilizer and the inhalation of fertilizer dust is minimized.  Managers are to ensure that staff is made aware of any national and industry regulations which have to be observed. Personal Protective  Staff must be provided with appropriate PPE when using fertilizer Equipment products. Lack of appropriate  Managers must ensure that appropriate safety warning signs and/or warning safety information is displayed/ available regarding nature of hazards and risk signage and control measures. information Poor housekeeping  All staff is responsible for implementing sound housekeeping and/or routine practices in storage areas and arranging regular routine maintenance for maintenance all equipment used. Defective &/or  Conduct regular inspection & testing of equipment and infrastructure to unserviceable plant & identify what maintenance requirements equipment Incorrect or Fertilizer blends to be prepared using the right raw materials in the inappropriate appropriate proportions. All products will be loaded into spreaders etc in the mixtures of product right condition to the right weight.

28 No training  Staff will undertake appropriate training. Lack of appropriate  All relevant records and documentation to be kept and maintained eg records &/or training records, risk assessments, maintenance schedules, recipes for documentation fertilizer blends, MSDS’s etc.

85. Information dissemination and training activities. As mentioned above, among the proposed mitigation measures are also a series of in formation dissemination and training activities concerning: (a) safe handling of treated seeds and fertilizers; and, (b) information dissemination and training program on sustainable land use practices. These activities should be done prior and/or during the inputs supply in order to ensure there will be no waste associated with treated seeds and with fertilizers and that they are used in the most efficient manner.

86. Main objectives of information dissemination and training activities. The general objective of the training and awareness activities are to:

 sensitize the various stakeholders on the linkages between environment and social impacts and agricultural productivity;  demonstrate the role of the various players in implementation and monitoring of the EMP;  sensitize farmers and representatives and leaders of community groups and associations on the implementation and management of the mitigation measures; and on their roles in ensuring environmental and health safety of the seeds and fertilizers usage;  ensure that ecological inspectors and district and jamoat authorities are able to supervise the implementation of the project activities and the stipulations of the EMP.

To achieve these objectives short-term refresher courses (1 day) will be provided to upgrade existing knowledge and to inform about new concepts in the areas of environmentally sustainable technologies in treated seeds and fertilizers usage and in sustainable land resources management, including soil conservation and element of environmental monitoring. The details of the training Program is provided in the table 7, presented below.

Table 6 Information dissemination and training activities

N Type of training (including Period Responsibility form of consulting, instructions) and information dissemination 1 Proper storage, safe handling At the beginning MoA, jamoates, and use of treated seeds of the project FAO as facilitator and implementation provider of information materials 2 Proper storage, safe handling At the beginning MoA, jamoates and use and fertilizers, waste of the project FAO as facilitator and disposal implementation provider of information materials 3 Sustainable land management During the MoA, TAAS, ALM, CEP practices: project implementation - soil conservation, including crop rotation

29 - advanced land management technologies - land monitoring and indicators

Information Dissemination by During the MoA, FAO PIU audi- and visual means, project duration leaflets, bulletins, mass-media and etc. : IX. Monitoring Plan

87. General remarks. The EMP includes a Monitoring Plan with measures that will be employed to track the effectiveness of the Mitigation Plan and described the environmental indicators to be monitored, along with the monitoring methods, frequency, costs, as well as the monitoring and reporting procedures, including institutional arrangements for the implementation of this plan (see Annex 3 ). It addresses in particular project need to monitor the project implementation and identify potential negative impacts of inappropriate usage of treated seeds and fertilizers. Relevant person of FAO PIU will be responsible for the implementation of the monitoring plan.

88. Reporting. The findings of the relevant monitoring activities will be reflected in quarterly and annual progress reports. The progress reports will cover the implementation of proposed by EMP activities as well as effects of the environmental impacts. The site supervisors should be trained to be able to conduct inspections during the seeds and fertilizers supply and their usage.

X. Stakeholders Analysis and institutional responsibilities

89. Main stakeholders. A series of different stakeholders will be involved in the project implementation at different level: Ministry of Agriculture, Agency on Land Management, Ministry of Water resources and Land Reclamation, State Committee for Environmental Protection, local authorities and jamoats. The primary project beneficiaries will be small farmers and farm workers who, as a result of the drought last summer and the harsh winter of 2007/2008, find themselves precariously close to a food crisis should the current cropping season bring another shock to crops and livestock.

90. The Ministry of Agriculture has the primary responsibility for agricultural policies, including setting standards on quantity and rational usage of inputs required per hectare for agricultural production. The Department for Land Use of the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for issues related to the sustainable use of agricultural land.

91. The Agency for Land Management with its regional offices is responsible for land policy, land reform and the control of land use practices. It is the key authority responsible for implementation of the Land Code.

92. The Ministry of Water Resources and Land Reclamation is responsible for the development and maintenance of irrigation canals, water reservoirs, pump stations, distribution of water among agricultural consumers, and collection of fees. The Ministry also establishes norms and limits for water consumers and monitors efficiency of water use; provides data on water consumption; maintains Water Cadastre, issues “certificates” to individual irrigation, drainage, land- reclamation schemes and analyses data obtained in the process.

30 93. The Committee for Environmental Protection. The Committee has an important role in decision making related to environmental problems of agricultural production linked to unsustainable land use, deterioration of soil fertility, and use of agrochemicals. As the central State executive body responsible for environmental protection, the sustainable use of resources, forestry and hydrometeorology, among its most important functions are to: (a) Define the main strategies for the protection, study, conservation and sustainable use of resources, the mitigation of the effects of climate change; (b) Prepare and publish biennial state-of-the environment reports; (c) Draft laws and other regulatory documents, including environmental standards, instructions and methodologies for the use of resources; (d) Issue individual permits for the use of specific resources and withdraw these if the user violates their terms; (e) Set quotas for the hunting and collection of certain species of animals and factories, as well as for the import of ozone-depleting substances; (f) Carry out ecological expertise of planned activities; (g) Define the system of specially protected territories and maintain State cadastres of such territories, forests, factories, water bodies and hazardous waste.

94. Local authorities. Local councils are authorized to coordinate the environmental protection and use of resources by the farmers and farmers associations in their jurisdiction. Local councils may: (a) grant or withdraw land parcels and monitor their sustainable use; (b) register ownership or land-use rights; (c) designate nature and other objects as ecologically, culturally or scientifically valuable and nominate them for monument status; (d) set rules for water use, including water consumption by households and farms; (e) control compliance with the rules for use of forests and reforestation and correct extraction of mineral resources, as well as orderly hunting and fishing. The project will facilitate the jamoats to take safe measures for proper storage, handling and use of treated seeds and fertilizers.

95. TAAS Institute for Factory Protection and Quarantine. The new Factory Protection and Quarantine Institute established within Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) in May 2005, is consolidating various factory protection departments in the crop-specific research centers. It consists of four departments: (1) a laboratory for factory protection products, including bio pesticides and growth regulators; (2) a laboratory to study agricultural pests; (3) bio laboratories for mass-rearing of natural enemies, including the facilities at Ziroatkor in Hissor; and (4) laboratories for horticultural pest control. The rehabilitated insect rearing facilities for cotton are expected to become self-supporting after four years.

XI. Implementing arrangements

96. Implementing entity. The FAO will be contracted by the GOT to coordinate the implementation of the activities financed under the proposed project and facilitate the implementation of EMP. A part time environmental specialist will be appointed within the FAO PIU to oversee the environmental aspects of project development and implementation. The main tasks of the environmental specialist will be to:

 organize information dissemination and training programs;  organize supervision of the inputs supply and usage;  prepare quarterly and annual progress report on the progress in implementing EMP and on the environmental performances of the project activities;

31  ensure that all relevant documentation and reports related to environmental aspects of subprojects are properly maintained by the PIU.

97. Responsibilities of other involved stakeholders. The MoA will be responsible for consulting and training of jamoat representatives to safely store, handle and use the treated seed material, and fertilizers, implementation of EMP; conduct trainings according the program of EMP involving MWRLM and ALM.

The CEP (on local level) will monitor the proper disposal of the treated seed material and fertilizers, implementation of EMP, conduct trainings on environmental aspects.

Local authorities and jamoats will distribute the treated materials and fertilizers according to the approved instruction on safety and recommendations.

XII. Budget

98. Summary of EMP expenditures. A tentative breakup of budgetary requirements is given in Table 7. Table 7 Budget estimates

Line item Cost 1. Public awareness and information dissemination on sustainable land use in 5000 wheat and fodder crop production Community program on sustainable land use practices, including 2500 information about full implications of mono-culture on soil fertility, land degradation and crops quality

2. Public awareness and training in mitigating environmental impacts of the 6500 application of treated seeds and fertilizers Training (including consulting, instructing) of the jamoat staff on 2000 environmental, health and safety requirements and measures for mitigating potential harmful impacts of seeds and fertilizers usage Training for environmental inspectors on environmental monitoring and 2000 enforcement of the existing national regulations to ensure full compliance of treated seeds and fertilizer use with safety requirements; waste disposal standards 3. Project management, monitoring and evaluation 2000

Grand total 18000

XIII. Public Consultation

99. General remarks. The FAO PIU is responsible overall for the preparation of the EA and was supported by a Local Consultant in this regard. The Consultant and the FAO have consulted with all interested parties, - Committee for Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Agency

32 for Land Resources, Academy of sciences, local NGOs, on the environmental and social aspects of the project (see Annex 6 with the list of consulted stakeholders and specialists). After preparing the EA Report a summary of the EA&EMP was made on November 11, 2008 available at the web page of Tajik Branch of the Regional Environmental Centre of Central Asia (web-site www.carecnet.org).

100. EA&EMP disclosure. The Ministry of Agriculture has disseminated the draft summary EMP in its institutions and to other relevant ministries for review and comments, also posting it for wide public on the web-page of the Tajik Branch of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (website – www.carecnet.org) - also by disseminating through local electronic networks. After two week time (on November, 24, 2008) the PIU has conducted a public briefing and consultation on the document (see Annex 6 with the minutes of the consultation). Outside of participants from the interested state institutions in the meeting took part also representatives from environmental and agricultural NGOs, local representatives of the government bodies, such as CEP, MoA, MoH, MIWR, and others. The meeting concluded that the draft EMP document covered practically all potential impacts and possible mitigation measures. The draft EMP was revised after the meeting taking into account inputs from the consultation. The final version of the EMP was provided to the World Bank, and will be used by the government agencies in the project implementation. The Russian translation of full EA and EMP report will be provided to the CEP (State ecological expertise), MoA and also posted on relevant and accessible web-sites.

33 Annex 1. Summary of project potential adverse environmental impacts

Component/ Issues Anticipated/Potential Scale of the Effects on Environment Social/health Activity environmental Impact impacts impacts (local regional)

Support for Incorrect potential land degradation in Local and regional Land degradation due to Adverse health Agricultural disposal and use the case of cultivation of salinization of soil; impacts of treated seeds agricultural crops on the step Inputs slopes as well as pollution and and fertilizers siltation of lakes and rivers Increased ground waters level threats to human health and and over saturation of wildlife due to poor handling of soil; treated seeds and fertilizers; Soil erosion of the upper layer; contamination of ground and and thus reduced soil surface water with fertilizers; fertility. increase in usage agrochemicals that might Increased water courses cause environmental pollution pollution with drainage waters that would affect wildlife; and and siltation of the water reservoirs negative impacts on the health of farmers in the case of Accidental expose of inappropriate agrochemicals handling. environment and of farmers during their inappropriate handling and usage

34 Overuse and/or incorrect Local, regional Ground and surface water may Adverse impacts on In use of mineral fertilizers contain high levels of N and P the ground waters as cre may result in nutrient build and colloids which may have sources of drinking as up in water courses, adverse health effects water in rural areas ed affecting aquatic life and and respectively an causing eutrophication of Reduced dissolved minerals in adverse impacts on d water bodies. surface and ground water; the health of inc degradation of natural habitats. population orr ect us e of tre ate d se ed s or ov er us e of fer tili zer

35 Annex 2 Environmental Management Matrix

Activity Effects on Environment Actions or Mitigation Measures Responsibilities Support for Agricultural Threats to human health Development, adjustment to national FAO PIU&MoA,TAAS Inputs and wildlife due to standards and norms and distribution of local poor handling of special instructions with necessary authorities&jamoates treated seeds and requirements for the safe storage, handling fertilizers and application of treated seed material and fertilizers. All farmers should be informed Contamination of ground about the content of the instructions. and surface water with fertilizers; Apply nationally established requirements and MoA norms for grain production; Soil erosion of the upper layer; and thus The seed material procured under this trust FAO PIU, MoA reduced soil fund will be in accordance with International fertility. Maize and Wheat Improvement Center CIMMYT quality standards for grain seeds. Increased water courses pollution with polluted Train (consult, instruct) population for MoA&jamoates, FAO drainage waters application of treated seed material and PIU as facilitator and fertilizers according the developed and provider of information Increased siltation of approved instruction for treated seed material materials; water bodies due to soil and fertilizers handling and use; erosion Monitor that all provided seed and fertilizers MoA& FAO PIU, CEP should be sown on agreed land sites, not on (local inspectors) step slopes

A training program (including consulting, MoA, TAAS guiding, instruction) on sustainable land use practices, including information about full implications of mono-culture on soil fertility, land degradation and crops quality

Training on environmental legislation (can be CEP&MoA combined with other proposed trainings)

Public awareness and information MoA, FAO dissemination campaign;

Proper disposal of waste materials and CEP (local level); local rubbish. If disposal by burial or fire, it should authorities; sanitary not cause negative impact to either the air, soil bodies of the Ministry nor ground water supplies. Minimize damage of health to natural setting.

36 Annex 3. Monitoring Plan Matrix

Project What should be Where to How to When to Costs Responsabi component/ monitored/indica monitor? monitor and monitor/frequ lities activity tors? sources of ency? information? Support for Safe treated seeds Dushanbe, PIU Progress monthly The cost PIU; MoA Agricultural storage, handling Selected reports for these Jamoats Inputs and use rayons activitie CEP local s are inspectors included Safe Fertilizers PIU Progress monthly in the PIU, MoA transporting, reports cost for jamoats storage, handling PIU CEP (local and use: operatio inspectors) (used amount and n. number of application – tones; correct storage and disposal of chemicals);

Sustainable land Statistical Annually PIU&MoA use practices data (areas with crop rotation); MoA and PIU Quarterly MoA, Conducted progress responsible trainings and reports; people of public awareness PIU activities (number of trainings and MoA and PIU monthly MoA, trained people; Training responsible published reports people of information PIU materials)

37 Annex 4. Legal framework and main requirements concerning environmental and health safety of mineral fertilizers usage

Methodical Recommendations for Environment Protection in Use, Storage and Transportation of the Pesticides and Mineral Fertilizers by Goscompriroda of the USSR, 1990

2.10. Special protection areas are established to prevent entry of the pesticides and mineral fertilizers into water objects. In case the water objects are available on the territory, the land user is obliged to mark the following objects on the land using plan, agreed with the local bodies of environment protection:  water protection areas and sides of the rivers and other water reservoirs (the dimensions of the water protection areas and riversides are specified by the Republican Regulations on water protection zones (stripes) of rivers, lakes and water reservoirs, and also by Regulation on appropriate zones of small rivers);  sanitary zones of the fishery water reservoirs (500 m from the line of flood having maximum standing of the overflow waters, but not closer than 2 km from the existing banks). 2.12. Usage of the mineral fertilizers is forbidden in the sides of the rivers, lakes and water reservoirs. 2.13. It is forbidden to destroy container for fertilizers, clean and wash the containers, vehicles and equipment, used for transportation and application of the mineral fertilizers on the riversides and also on the overflow territories. 2.16. It is forbidden to apply fertilizers into the frozen or covered by snow soil, and also together with flushing water, if the discharge of this water causes pollution of the surface and ground waters. 3.1.17. The losses of pesticides and mineral fertilizers and pollution of the environment by them is not allowed during handling works. 4.3. The storage of packed and unpacked mineral fertilizers is carried out in the conditions, provided they are completely isolated from entering of the atmospheric precipitates, surface and ground waters. 4.4. The chief agronomist makes the operative record of the mineral fertilizers flow. 4.31. The mineral fertilizers which have become worthless (if the act on write off is available) are subjected to burial in the established order by agreement with the environment protection bodies and Sanitary-Epidemic Station. 4.32. The water, flowing down from the sites for storage of the mineral fertilizers shall be collected into the waterproof collectors with subsequent use for fertilizing of the agricultural land. 5.1. Preparation of the fertilizers for application, their crushing and mixing are carried out directly in the storage place, using the crushers and fertilizer mixing machines. In case they are not available, the crushing is made manually – on the asphalt or concrete plate. The delivery of the fertilizers to the field and their application can be done by straight through and transfer technologies. 5.2. The remains of unused fertilizers shall be removed and returned to the storage place. 6.1.12. Application of the solid and liquid fertilizers shall be done according to the scientifically based zone systems of farming. The mineral fertilizers have to be apply to the soil according to the norms and in due time, stipulated for each crop. 6.1.13. The calculation of the doses of the mineral fertilizers is carried out by specialists of the chemical stations or by the agronomists on the base of the field test data about the efficiency of the fertilizers, and using the correction factor on the agrochemical qualities of the soils. 6.1.14. The fertilizer application has to be done according to a plan, their actual usage shall be registered in the log book, showing the quantity of the actually applied fertilizers, ways and dates of application. The applied fertilizers are registered by the chief agronomist (agrochemist) in the

38 book of field utilization, where the data on fertilizer application by teams, fields and crops is registered. 6.1.16. The application of the fertilizers by aviation shall be done at wind velocity up to 4 m/security at the distance longer than 500 m from the settlements, and also from the sources of water supply, cattle breeding farms. 7.2. Neutralization and washing of the transport facilities, apparatus, containers and working clothes from the pesticides and mineral fertilizers are carried out on specially equipped sites. 7.3. These works are strongly forbidden on the sides of ponds, lakes, rivers, near the walls, irrigation ditches, canals of the irrigation network and other water objects. 7.4. The wastewater, formed after washing the machines and inventory, polluted by mineral fertilizers, needs to be collected and used. The discharge into the water objects is possible only after preliminary treatment. GOST 17.1.3.11-84 (1985). Nature protection. Hydrosphere. General rules of surface and ground water protection from pollution by the mineral fertilizers 2. In economical activities it is necessary to prevent the pollution of the surface and ground water by fertilizers. 3. The application of the fertilizers should be done according to the plan, their actual usage has to be registered in the log book, showing the quantity of the actually applied fertilizers, size of the territory to be fertilized, ways and dates of application. 4. All ways of fertilizer application are forbidden on the territory of the first belt of the sanitary protection zone of the sources of centralized potable water supply. 5. The temporal storage of the fertilizers is allowed in the second belt of the sanitary protection zone in the houses, providing the prevention of the water pollution by these fertilizers, if there is a need for them to be used in this belt. 6. It is not allowed in the first and second belts of the sanitary protection zones in the side water protection zones, and also on overflow territories to do the following: destroy the containers for the fertilizers; clean and wash the containers, machines and equipment, used for transportation and application of the fertilizers. 7. The fertilizer application is not allowed during the period of direct threat of the flood and during aero spraying of the fertilizers in the second belt of the sanitary protection zone. 8. The application of the fertilizers by aero spraying at wind velocity above 10 m/security is not allowed. 9. The application of the fertilizers on the frozen or covered by snow ground is not allowed. 10. The application of the fertilizers together with the water is not allowed, if the discharge of this water to the water objects causes the pollution of the surface and ground waters. 11. The transportation of the solid and liquid fertilizers shall be carried out in specially equipped transportation facilities, excluding the possibility to scatter the fertilizers or their leakage. 12. The possibility to pollute the surface and ground waters shall be excluded, when the fertilizers are stored. The places of storage of the fertilizers shall not be subjected to flooding. The water, streaming down from the storage site, shall be collected in the waterproof collectors and this water shall be subsequently used for fertilizing the agricultural lands. 13. Washing of containers, machines and equipment, polluted by fertilizers, is not allowed. The wastewater formed as the result of washing has to be collected and used or treated before discharge to the water objects. 14. Utilization, destruction and burial of the containers shall be carried out with due observation of the measures to prevent the pollution of the surface and ground waters.

39 GOST 12.3.037-84 (1986). The system of labor safety standards. Application of the fertilizers in agriculture and forestry. General rules of safety 1.1. The mineral fertilizers shall be applied in agriculture and forestry according to the requirements of GOST 12.3.002-75, of the present standard, and also according to the rules of storage, transportation and mineral fertilizer application, approved by the Ministry of Health Care of the USSR. 1.2. The levels of dangerous and harmful factors while using the mineral fertilizers shall not exceed the allowable meanings, specified by standards, and also by sanitary and hygienic norms of the Ministry of Health Care of the USSR. 3.2. Daily reserve of the mineral fertilizers is allowed to store on temporal sites under condition of observance the standards of the environment protection requirements and preservation of the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of the fertilizers. 5.3. The works to prepare the mineral fertilizers to be applied to the soil are to be carried out with the help of mechanisms, equipped with the devices to reduce the dust formation. 5.6. The application of fertilizers by agricultural aviation shall be carried out at the wind velocity not more than 4 m/security at the distance of above 500 m from the settlements, sources of water supply and animal breeding farms. GOST 4.77-82 (1983). The system of product quality indices. Mineral fertilizers. Nomenclature of indices Nomenclature of the quality indices. 1.1. Indices of the chemical composition. 1.2. Indices of the physical and chemical properties. 1.3. Indices of the physical and mechanical properties. 2.1. Indices of shelf life. 2.2. Indices of ability to be restored. 3. Indices of uniformity. 4. Indices of safety. 5. Environmental indices. 5.1. Physical acidity of the fertilizer (GOST 20432-75). Effect on the reaction of the soil solution. 5.2. Physical alkalinity of the fertilizers (GOST 20432-75). Effect on reaction of the soil solution. 6. Processibility indices. GOST 23954-80 (1981). Mineral Fertilizers. Rules of Taking over The mineral fertilizers are taken over by lots, …. which are covered by one document on quality. The document about quality shall contain the following: - name of the manufacturing plant; - name of the product; - sign of the corresponding NTD; - technical specifications for corresponding NTD; - indications about special qualities of the product, class of danger by GOST 19433-88, confirmation that the danger sign by GOST 19433-88 has been put, manipulation sign by GOST 14192-77; - confirmation that the product complies with corresponding NTD; - date of manufacturing; The quality of the mineral fertilizers packed into bags and containers is controlled by selecting above 1% of the packing units. If only one index has unsatisfactory results of the analyzes the whole lot is rejected.

40 Annex 5. List of consulted stakeholders and specialists

1. Akhmedov Kh. – President of the Tajik Academy of agricultural sciences 2. Ergashev M. – Senior researcher, Institute of soil science and arable farming, Tajik Academy of agricultural sciences 3. Khalilov D. – Deputy Head of the State Ecological expertise, Committee for environmental protection under the Government of Tajikistan 4. Latipov R. – Focal Point of the Convention on environment impact assessment, including trans-boundary context (Espoo Convention) 5. Saidov I. – Head of the Center for water resources protection, Committee for environmental protection under the Government of Tajikistan 6. Nazarov T. – Head of the Scientific-Production Center “Tabiat” 7. Latify A. – Focal Point of Convention on migratory species 8. Ormonov M. – Head of the Grain production Department, Ministry of agriculture 9. Nazarova S. – Senior specialist of the Department of science and scientific achievements, Ministry of agriculture 10. Tilloev F. - Senior specialist of the livestock Department, Ministry of agriculture 11. Rahimjonova M. – Head of the Department on bee-farming, fish-breeding and poultry- farming, Ministry of agriculture 12. Abdulloev V. – Senior specialist of Department on bee-farming, fish-breeding and poultry-farming, Ministry of agriculture 13. Rahmatillaev R. – Deputy head of the Tajik Science Institute of hydro-melioration, Ministry of melioration and water resources 14. Babadjanov R. - Strategy planning expert, Public sector reform Project, Executive Office of the President of Tajikistan 15. Blagoveshenskaya S. – Expert on biodiversity, NGO “Kuhiston” 16. Zardiev N. – Specialist on land management issues, Ministry of agriculture 17. Idrisov T. – NGO “Little Earth” 18. Alihanova T. – expert on sustainable development “Network of SD experts” 19. Karimov M. – Deputy head of the Sanitary Epidemiological Survey, Ministry of health

41 Annex 6. Minute of EMP public consultations

A meeting was held on 24 November, 2008, at the seminar hall of the FAO office, at Bokhtar street, 35, Dushanbe, preceded by the public invitation. The following included the agenda of the meeting:

 Environmental Aspects of the Emergency Food Security and Seed Imports Project;  Discussion on main activities and responsibilities of Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring matrixes

The team leader of project from FAO and environmental specialist of the project presented the project and the issues with regard to the above points. Following is the brief summary of the participant’s views with regard to the project.

 The participants unanimously concluded that the outputs of the proposed project components would strengthen sustainable development of the National agriculture, involving technologies, policies and actions directed at the integration of socio-economic principles related to the environmental protection. This, without doubt, would promote development and increase the agricultural production and would economically help the poorest farmers in a timely manner to reduce the negative impact of high and volatile food prices, prevent the risk of the decreased productivity of irrigated and rain-fed (dry-farming) lands, and prevent the degradation of soil fertility.  It is expected that the project would promote sustainable and effective use of irrigated land and water, introduction of environmentally sustainable management practices, increased responsibilities for the environment.  Participants proposed to include into the matrixes the issues for the future trainings as correct fencing of the farmer’s sites, proper crop and pasture rotation, irrigation norms, advanced watering technologies and etc. The measures foreseen in the matrixes can be implemented also in frame of other programs, projects and strategies and in cooperation with relevant organizations dealing with similar issues.  Based on the above the meeting considered the project to be technically feasible, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable and they would provide full cooperation for its successful implementation.  The meeting also expressed that it was quite educative to organize such meetings. It was emphasized that more attention is required to be paid to educate the citizens to: (i) sensitize the people about the environmental impacts and their duties and responsibilities (ii) to review the general and technical principles of environmental procedures and the role of government and private agencies; and (iii) to educate the people about the existing legislation, norms and procedures of the Republic of Tajikistan and to suggest any modifications for improvements.  It was concluded that environmental management plan is almost fully meets all environmental protection requirements of national legislation and WB policies, and takes into accounts the responsibilities of relevant stakeholders.

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