Value Chains research report Tajikistan final - Microfinance Centre

are in 2 layers. One rail car can carry 30-40 tonnes of watermelons. According to
railroad regulations for transportation of watermelons in refrigerator rail cars they should
be on the boxes, 4 per box. A major difficulty in transporting watermelons is the high
nitrates used by producers. The watermelons with high nitrate levels spoil quicker and
do not reach the destination in an acceptable form.
Table 28. Export of Watermelons and Melons in Tajikistan, 2006 and 2008 and 2010
2006 2008 2010
Country
Tonnes US Tonnes US Tonnes US
Dollars
Dollars
Dollars
(000)
(000)
(000)
Totally 990 146 507 121 354 37
Kazakhstan 25 3 - -
Russia 911 138 295 97 8 13
Afghanistan 54 5 212 24 342 23
Kyrgyzstan 4 1
Source: State Statistic Agency of Tajikistan.
As we can see from the table 28 for exports of melon and watermelons small, the main
volume was exported to Afghanistan. The export of melons and watermelons to Russia
declined rapidly. It is connected with high the competition in Russian market and
problems with transportation. The railway connection from Southern Tajikistan
problematic due to problems with Uzbekistan as country transit which not allow the flow
from this direction.
Functions.
• Farmers, procurers, exporters and retail sellers are the main players in the melon
value chain, each linked to the other. The producer segment of the value chain
is growing as more farmers realize the profit potential of watermelons and are
shifting acreage to their production. The increase is also due to the breakup of
larger farms and the reduction of restrictions on land devoted to cotton
production, diverting irrigated land to melon production.
• Exporters are entrepreneurs who have contacts in the exporting market. The
number of exporters is stable however; exports is decreasing, largely due to the
problems with Uzbekistan.
• Retail traders are those who sell watermelons in districts and towns, trading in
the markets and along the roads. Their number is growing.
62