Tajikistan is considered one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in Central Asia. The effects of climate change are already visible in the form of increased temperatures, extreme weather events, and glacial melt. The agricultural sector is hugely affected, resulting in water stress and high losses from disasters and low productivity. In this regard, advisories, alerts, and robust early warning systems are essential for farmers and rural dwellers to prepare for and adapt to changes in the climate.
“With extreme weather events posing serious risks to agriculture and the rural economy, I do believe that advanced weather data will benefit Tajik farmers in guarding them against climate change,” predicted Abulqosim Muminov, Head of the Agrometeorology Department in the Agency of Hydrometeorology.
“I recognize the importance of my job, as weather is one of the major factors that affect agricultural production.”
Indeed, agriculture is a central element to Tajikistan’s development path, contributing directly and indirectly to the gross domestic product. A significant part of the government’s revenue is allocated for food security, which is also given a special emphasis in national development policies and strategies.
Still, only after 1998 was the meteorology and climatology department founded at Tajik State National University in Dushanbe. Abulqosim Muminov graduated from there as an engineer-meteorologist and has been with the Agrometeorology Department in the Agency of Hydrometeorology for 11 years, ultimately becoming the department head.
“I recognize the importance of my job, as weather is one of the major factors that affect agricultural production,” noted Abulqosim. “The role of agrometeorology is essential in agriculture, since each activity depends on the weather. Using agrometeorological data and forecasts allows farmers to minimize risks related to production and harvesting crops and thus meet the population’s demand for food and other agricultural products.”
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and European Union are strong allies of the country to ensure timely weather information for farmers. In 2019, FAO, with the support of the European Union, installed three automated weather stations, each in a different region (Tursunzoda, Konibodom, and J. Balkhi) characterized by intensive production of grapes, apricots, and cottons. The weather stations support the Agrometeorology Department in gathering important climate data from each region and producing advanced agrometeorological information for the local producers on weather changes, plant diseases, and yield forecasts, all of which help them mitigate the impact of climate change.
