Tajikistan Enhances Cattle Farm Biosecurity To Safeguard Livestock Health And Prevent Transboundary Diseases

In support of national and regional efforts to strengthen animal health systems and prevent the spread of infectious livestock diseases, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Committee for Food Security under the Government of Tajikistan, provided a two-day training on biosecurity in cattle farms in Khujand, Sughd Region.

The training was organized under the broader regional initiative “Pandemic Preparedness and Response through a One Health Approach in Central Asia,” funded by the Pandemic Fund. The initiative aims to enhance national and regional resilience to public health threats by addressing interconnected risks across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors.

Cattle farming is one of the most important agricultural activities in Tajikistan, contributing significantly to food security, rural livelihoods, and economic stability. While the sector has benefited from increased investment and modernization in recent years, it remains vulnerable to transboundary and zoonotic diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), lumpy skin disease, brucellosis, anthrax, and tuberculosis. These diseases not only undermine animal health and productivity but also pose serious threats to public health and regional trade.

The FAO training brought together veterinarians, livestock specialists, and farmers to strengthen their technical capacity in farm-level biosecurity, disease prevention, and One Health-based risk management. The programme combined theoretical sessions with a hands-on field visit to a cattle farm, providing participants with practical experience in applying biosecurity measures in real-world conditions.

Key topics covered included infection routes and risk factors for major livestock diseases such as FMD, biosecure farm design and infrastructure, hygiene and disinfection protocols, vaccination handling and cold-chain management, animal quarantine procedures, and responsible antimicrobial use to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

“Preventing the spread of livestock diseases starts with action at the farm level,” said Aghasi Harutyunyan, FAO Representative a.i. in Tajikistan. “This training empowers frontline professionals with practical skills to detect risks early, improve farm biosecurity, and apply science-based solutions that protect animal health, safeguard public health, and support rural livelihoods. Strengthening these systems is vital for building long-term resilience in Tajikistan’s livestock sector.”

On the second day, participants observed biosecurity practices in action, including FMD risk assessments, cleaning and disinfection procedures, manure management, and vaccination techniques. Group discussions further encouraged participants to identify biosecurity gaps and develop farm-specific improvement plans to enhance prevention and control measures.

This training reflected FAO’s continued commitment to supporting Tajikistan in strengthening veterinary and livestock systems in line with international standards, while contributing to regional pandemic preparedness under the One Health approach. It complemented earlier capacity-building activities conducted in the poultry and laboratory sectors, all under the umbrella of the Pandemic Fund-supported regional initiative.