[{"bbox": [85, 153, 341, 184], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 199, 1135, 463], "category": "Text", "text": "The cotton crop remains a mainstay of Tajikistan's rural economy. However, both in Central Asia and in Tajikistan particularly, conventional production methods of cotton have had a profoundly negative environmental and social impact which need transformative action toward more sustainable practices. Conventional cotton is wasteful with increasingly scarce water resources and relies on inadequate use of synthetic pesticides. Inefficient use of mineral fertilisers is widespread, and in general, too little emphasis has been given to crop rotation and diversification. Moreover, discrimination against women and neglect of the social impact persist. These challenges are compounded by noticeable effects of climate change (such as water shortages or heat stress). Regional exchange and coordination on crucial issues related to water, climate and protection of landscapes is lacking. The regional exchange will build on the broader regional Team Europe Initiative on Water, Energy and Climate Change in Central Asia."}, {"bbox": [96, 490, 1135, 835], "category": "Text", "text": "The specific problem to address is the currently too narrow perspective on optimisation of volumes (partly imposed by production quotas) and yields of cotton, whereas a more comprehensive to the resource management in cotton-based farm/households and their environment is urgently needed. The BCI standard is addressing this challenge in its \"landscape approach\", including soil management, biodiversity plans and water stewardship; these practices can be systematised and scaled up. The revised BCI criteria are giving more emphasis to gender equality and climate change adaptation and mitigation. This initiative needs to be backed up by policy process that address land use planning in a national and regional context. An enabling policy environment and cross-sectoral exchange need to be strengthened. Currently, there is a general lack of information on climate change impacts on land use types which are neither adequately reflected in planning processes nor integrated into comprehensive management approaches. Through specific field-level measures directed at the management of cotton farm systems and the ecosystem services in their natural environment, the Action will demonstrate the future viability of green cotton farming and feed the experiences back to ongoing policy processes (Nationally Determined Contribution, Rio conventions etc.)"}, {"bbox": [96, 861, 1135, 996], "category": "Text", "text": "Regarding gender aspects, it can be highlighted that in 2018, 69% of women in Tajikistan were officially employed in the agriculture sector, compared to 41% of men. Women make up the majority of the labour force in agriculture, but they have limited knowledge about agriculture and farming, new technologies, new crops, fertilisers and their utilisation⁵. In addition, their access to land (control over-ownership) is very limited having an impact on loans for business development."}, {"bbox": [96, 1020, 1135, 1208], "category": "Text", "text": "The Textile and Cotton (T&C) processing sector in Tajikistan faces many structural challenges owing to an overall unfavourable investment climate. Until now, only a part of the sustainably produced cotton in Tajikistan is absorbed by the local industry, owing to the difficult access to higher quality markets. However, the Action will specifically support processing companies to shape the conditions that will further diversify their business relationships. Some leading national companies have started to explore successfully higher-value niche markets that require the respect of international recognised production standards, which opens new opportunities of value addition within a green cotton value chain in Tajikistan."}, {"bbox": [96, 1286, 1135, 1395], "category": "Text", "text": "The two main political partners of the Action will be the Ministry of Industries (MINT, the lead agency in the ongoing development of the national cotton and textiles strategy) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). These two ministries are mandated to develop and enforce policies related to the production of cotton (and other crops) and the processing industry, respectively."}, {"bbox": [96, 1419, 1135, 1501], "category": "Text", "text": "Other public stakeholders include the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoeDT), the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MEWR) and the Committee of Environmental Protection (COP) which are concerned with export policies, environmental conservation, hydrometeorology and land use policies, respectively."}, {"bbox": [85, 1620, 534, 1646], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ https://capacity4dev.europa.eu/library/gcp-tajikistan"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1144, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 20"}]