CA-NEWS (TJ) - An agreement on awarding grant of European Union Food Price Crisis Response Trust Fund was signed between the Government of Tajikistan and the International Development Association (IDA), World Bank in Dushanbe on September 3 within the framework of the Public Employment for Sustainable Agriculture and Water Management Project, reported the Ministry of Finance's (MoF) Secretariat.

The document was inked by Mr. Safarali Najmiddinov, Finance Minister of Tajikistan, and Ms. Chiara Bronchi, the World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan.

The objective of the Public Employment for Sustainable Agriculture and Water Management Project for Tajikistan is in generating temporary employment and rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage in Qabodiyon, Shahritus, Qumsangir, Vakhsh and Farkhor districts in Khatlon province. Adverse environmental impacts such as: water logging and salinization; soil erosion; dumping of excavated sediments and other materials from irrigation and drainage canals, soil erosion, air pollution, and structures; etc. Mitigation measures include: 1) minimize damage to natural setting and vegetative cover and assure vegetation recovery; 2) proper disposal of waste materials; 3) wastewater, including those from aggregate processing and concrete batching, must not enter streams without settling ponds; 4) dust from the handling or transporting of aggregates, cement, etc., should be minimized by sprinkling or other methods; 5) prevent air pollution by dust, emissions from transport vehicles; appropriate waste management during construction works; 6) training in improved water and soil management practices; and 7) proper management and disposal of fuel/wastes.

The project is designed for the period till December 31, 2011 and a total amount of the grant is 7.4 million euros (equivalent to $10.01 million).