Value Chains research report Tajikistan final - Microfinance Centre

Increases in production of vegetables in Tajikistan, including onions, are conditioned
by a number of factors, including:
• More land occupied by vegetables. 44,800 hectares were dedicated to growing
vegetables in Tajikistan in 2010, a 34% increase compared to 2005. This
became possible thanks to moving some of the land from cotton growing to other
crops and lifting heavy restrictions on cotton production plans. Farmers used
most of the land freed from cotton growing for producing onions, since these are
considered one of the most profitable crops, with substantial demand available;
• Increasing yield by using more expensive, higher quality seeds, proper usage of
fertilizers and agricultural machinery;
• Effective usage of pesticides and plant control chemicals;
• Improving farmers’ knowledge on agricultural techniques;
• Increasing access to financing. Production of onions has relatively high-capital
requirements, compared to other crops, and also requires large-scale spending
at various moments during the growing season;
• Favorable climate conditions.
Table 14. Production, yield and area plantation of vegetables in Tajikistan in 2005-
2010.
Indicators 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Area of plantations, 33,4 35,8 39,1 37,2 40,8 44,8
thousand ha
Gross productions 718,4 759,7 835,1 908,2 1046,9 1142,6
vegetables, thousand tons
Yield, tons per ha 18,7 18,7 19,0 19,9 20,8 20,6
Source: State Statistic Agency of Tajikistan
Post-harvest Operations of Onions
Onions harvested in Tajikistan pass several phases of post-harvest treatment
which are performed manually. These phases include cleaning, trimming the ends,
drying, sorting, calibration, peeling and packaging. Leaders of several farming
households were interviewed to verify the state of processing technology used. The
people performing these post-harvest tasks are mostly women who receive about $3,50
and two hot meals per day.
Packaging for onions
After harvesting and drying, onions are placed in string bags, from 22 to 30 kg
each, before sales begin. String bags are imported from China, though previously they
were brought in from Uzbekistan. Depending on the size and density of the bags, they
fit 20, 22, 25, or 30 kg. The price is 60 diram per bag retail or 45 diram wholesale.
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