Value Chains research report Tajikistan final - Microfinance Centre

5.3. Open field Tomato value chain analyses.
Tomato Production
There is substantial field production of tomatoes in Tajikistan with a wide range of
varieties grown including: Volgograd, Novichok, Gifts of Volga, Yubileyny, TMTK (local
variety), Gulkand (Uzbek variety), Bull’s Heart, Royal, Finish, Progress, Agatha, Fish
and Chiligi (local variety). In 2009 over 310,000 tons of tomatoes were produced in
Tajikistan, the largest share of which was produced on small farms. In 2011 the yield of
tomato declined very rapidly which bring to lack of tomato in local market.
More than 75% of all tomato produced are for canning. Tomatoes for local
consumption in the off-season are grown in greenhouses where production is centered
in Khatlon Region and will be covered by separate value chain analyses in this report.
Tomatoes are a perishable product and not recommended for storing. From an
economic standpoint, it is easier to produce tomatoes off season in greenhouses than to
store.
Table 17: The production, productivity and area harvested of tomatoes in Tajikistan 2007-2009
2007 2008 2009
Area Harvested (Ha) 11,500 11,300 12,000
Production (tonnes) 247,500 267,000 310,000
Yield (t/ha) 21,521 23,628 25,833
Source: FAO Statistic
The Northern Tajikistan has the highest level of tomato production. There has been
much planting of tomato from soviet period, and Central Asia was traditional suppliers of
fresh and canned tomatoes to Russia. In North is greatest concentration of tomato
processing facilities, many of which are obsolete remnants of the Soviet era.
The main tomato production is located in Isfara district. The second largest production
area was located in B. Gafurov district. These areas also have large tomato processing
enterprises but they are mostly antiquated Soviet design.
In spite of close mass concentration of tomatoes farmers grow tomato in small plot and
oriented for the fresh market. The production of tomato considered as very profitable.
Some advanced farmers are able to get 80 ton tomato per hectare. It makes the
production very attractive.
In general, the supply of quality tomato is very limited due to:
1. The farmer losing their income due to spoiling of their produced tomatoes negatively
affecting the quality of the products
2. The value chain of tomato production, processing, transportation and distribution is
not giving possible income to farmers (will be described below)
3. Farmers have limited access to quality certified inputs (seeds, fertilizers, CPPs) and
have not access to modern technologies
41