FAO: Tajikistan Among Most At-Risk Countries for Soil Degradation – Caspian Post

FAO Report on Land Degradation: A Critical Challenge to Tajikistan’s Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: Key Findings

A global report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has identified Tajikistan as a nation highly susceptible to soil degradation and escalating pressure on agricultural lands. This situation presents significant obstacles to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to poverty, hunger, and environmental sustainability.

Analysis of Tajikistan’s Vulnerability and SDG Implications

Tajikistan’s exposure to land degradation is intrinsically linked to severe land fragmentation, which directly undermines progress towards key SDGs.

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): The country’s agricultural productivity is constrained by the quality of its land resources. With over one million rural households and 181,000 dehkan farms, the average plot size is a mere 0.2 hectares, with a median of 0.1 hectares. This fragmentation impedes efficient farming and threatens national food security.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): The primary challenge is not the total land area but the degradation of soil quality, inadequate water access, and outdated irrigation and technology. These factors accelerate land degradation, a direct contravention of the targets set by SDG 15.

Global Land Use Trends and Relevance to SDG 15

The FAO report contextualizes Tajikistan’s challenges within a global framework of increasing pressure on terrestrial ecosystems, highlighting the urgency of SDG 15 (Life on Land).

1. Global Food Production Base: 95% of the world’s food originates from agricultural land, emphasizing the need for its sustainable management.
2. Land Use Change: Over the last two decades, cropland has expanded by 78 million hectares, while pastureland has decreased by 150 million hectares, indicating a shift in land use pressures.
3. Widespread Degradation: Land degradation now impacts an estimated 3.2 billion people globally, with some regions experiencing yield reductions of at least 10%.

Socio-Economic and Climate-Related Impacts on Tajikistan’s Development Agenda

The convergence of environmental and structural challenges directly threatens Tajikistan’s progress on its national development priorities and the broader SDG agenda.

• Impact on SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): With agriculture being a primary income source for millions, deteriorating soil quality jeopardizes rural livelihoods and economic stability. A global imbalance, reflected in Tajikistan, shows 80% of farms are under 2 hectares but control only 11-12% of land, while the largest 1% of farms own 70%. This makes it difficult to mechanize, attract investment, and improve yields, thereby slowing rural economic development.
• Impact on SDG 13 (Climate Action): Tajikistan’s reliance on irrigated agriculture and glacial meltwater makes it highly vulnerable to climate-related risks such as drought, water scarcity, and dust storms. These factors intensify pressure on the land, creating a negative feedback loop that undermines climate resilience and sustainable land management efforts.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses on threats to agricultural productivity, soil quality, and land management. The text directly links deteriorating soil quality to threats against Tajikistan’s “food security.” It also discusses global food production, noting that “95 per cent of the world’s food is grown on agricultural land.”

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article’s primary theme is land degradation. It explicitly states that “Tajikistan [is] one of the countries most exposed to soil degradation” and that globally, “Land degradation now affects 3.2 billion people.” This directly aligns with SDG 15’s aim to combat desertification and reverse land degradation.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The economic impact on rural populations is a key issue. The article notes that “agriculture remains a major source of income for millions” in Tajikistan and that challenges like small plot sizes and low productivity are “slowing rural development.” The threat to agricultural income directly relates to poverty reduction efforts.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article connects agricultural challenges to broader economic issues. It mentions that Tajik agriculture is constrained by “technology levels,” and that micro-plots “limit yield potential,” which in turn affects the country’s “economic stability.” This relates to the goal of achieving higher levels of economic productivity.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.

   The article highlights the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in Tajikistan, where the “average plot is just 0.2 hectares.” It notes that these “micro-plots make it difficult to use machinery or attract investment, limiting yield potential.” This directly relates to the need to improve the productivity and economic viability of small farms, which constitute the vast majority in the country.

2. Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.

   This target is addressed through the article’s focus on the unsustainability of current land use. It discusses “deteriorating soil quality” and the growing risks of “drought, water shortages, dust storms.” The need for resilient practices is implied by the statement that Tajik agriculture is constrained by “quality of soil, access to water, [and] irrigation systems.”

3. Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

   This is the most directly relevant target. The article is a report on land degradation, citing FAO data that “Land degradation now affects 3.2 billion people” and specifically identifying Tajikistan as highly “exposed to soil degradation.” The entire discussion revolves around the causes and consequences of this issue.

4. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.

   The article points out that Tajik agriculture’s productivity is limited by “technology levels.” The challenges associated with small plots, such as the difficulty in using machinery, underscore the need for technological and innovative solutions to boost economic productivity in the agricultural sector, which is crucial for the country’s “economic stability.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area (Indicator 15.3.1).

   This is directly mentioned. The article states that “Land degradation now affects 3.2 billion people” globally and that “yields in some regions have fallen by at least 10 per cent” as a consequence. It identifies Tajikistan as one of the “most exposed” countries, implying a high proportion of degraded land.

2. Volume of production per labour unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size (Indicator 2.3.1).

   This indicator is implied through the discussion of low productivity on small farms. The article notes that the average plot size in Tajikistan is “just 0.2 hectares” and that these small parcels are “difficult to manage efficiently,” which “limit[s] yield potential.” Measuring the output of these small farms would be a direct way to track progress.

3. Average size of farmland plots.

   While not an official SDG indicator, the article uses this as a key metric to explain the problem. It specifies the average plot size in Tajikistan is “0.2 hectares” and the median is “0.1 hectares.” It also provides global context: “80 per cent of the world’s farms are under 2 hectares.” This metric is used to measure the severity of land fragmentation.

4. Change in land use over time.

   The article provides specific data points that can serve as indicators of land use change: “Over the past 20 years, cropland expanded by 78 million ha” while “Pastureland, meanwhile, shrank by 150 million ha.” These figures are direct measures of the changing pressures on different types of land.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: caspianpost.com