Economic and social outcomes of investment on research and development in Tajikistan’s agrifood system

Khakimov, Parviz; Aragie, Emerta; Goibov, Manuchehr; and Ashurov, Timur. 2025. Economic and social outcomes of investment on research and development in Tajikistan’s agrifood system. Central Asia Policy Brief 29. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175325

The World Bank’s agriculture sector public expenditure review study (World Bank 2021) findings indicates that public expenditure on agriculture sector remains relatively small at less than one percent of GDP, though grew significantly between 2015 and 2020, and the sector relies heavily on donor financing (54 percent). There is a notable underinvestment in R&D, 0.7 percent of total public expenditure in agriculture sector between 2016-2019, which impacts productivity and climate resilience.

In this brief, for evaluating the potential impact of investment on Research and Development (R&D) to accelerate agricultural transformation and inclusiveness in Tajikistan agrifood system (AFS), we rely on the IFPRI’s Rural Investment and Policy Analysis (RIAPA) economywide dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model which incorporates household survey-based microsimulation and investment modules, and simulates the functioning of a market economy, comprising markets for products and factors which include land, labor, and capital (IFPRI 2023).