The Challenge

Migrant laborers and their families pay many unforeseen costs to earn money abroad. Disruptions in family structures with role and responsibility shifts affect individuals and family units, which then extend to the surrounding culture and society. (Report from the International Federation for Human Rights titled, Tajikistan: Exporting the Workforce - at What Price?)  

Tajikistan, a remittance dependent country, understands these issues well and has taken steps to address the challenges placed on its people and society due to high levels of migrant labor. Some of these steps include incentivizing local small business, including those directly related to agriculture and production of local goods. (A Critical Lesson for Tajikistan: The State of Migrant Workers in 2020 by The Diplomat)

Tajikistan is rich with fruits and vegetables. There is a growing market for quality processed natural products, including a large market for juice. One of the primary juice imports reportedly brings in nearly 4 million liters of juice per year for the market in and around the capital city. Given the market size, there are still only a handful of companies who produce 100% natural juice locally. 

A Solution

In response to this existing market and untapped local potential, TojTabii plans to establish a network of independent regional juice producers who are marketing and distributing under one brand. Regional production will remain relatively small scale with 30-50k liters per micro production facility but with a goal of 100-150k liters being marketed and distributed through the brand in the main city markets around the country. TojTabii aims to do this by starting two new independently owned and financially sustainable micro-production facilities in the next three years. Including an existing partnership with one production facility in the mountainous eastern part of the country, TojTabii plans to incrementally transfer majority ownership of the brand to the association of independent producers, including profit sharing to match ownership.

Small-Scale Regional Production. Quality Natural Products. Independent and Interdependent Local Ownership. One Brand. TojTabii.

Business activities geared No Poverty, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Responsible Consumption and Production:

Target: Promote and support men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, through access to economic resources, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, natural resources, and appropriate new technology. (Adapted from Target 1.4)

Target: Promote and support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. (Adapted from Target 8.4)

Target: Promote the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

Measured by:

• Number of full-time employees earning a local living wage or higher 

• Number of part-time employees earning a local living wage or higher

• Total revenue created by new local products.

• Number of local individuals who have full or partial ownership of their business and/or shared ownership of the brand 

• Number of profit-share partners 

• Number of liters of natural juice sold

• Number of tons of second sort fruit used for juice

Stories: 

• Evidence of growing brand recognition 

• Evidence of increased financial stability for families

• Progress made on the production facilities

TojTabii is working to establish a network of independent regional juice producers who are producing high quality, natural fruit juice while packaging and selling under one brand. Through partnerships and establishing new production facilities, TojTabii seeks to equip locals to earn a profitable wage locally and reduce food waste.

What does your donation go towards?

• Juice production equipment and shipping

• Apple costs and transportation

• Packaging

• Remodeling

• Local startup salaries