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An integrated mountain agropastoral system in Tajikistan has become Central Asia's first contribution to the list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) , the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported, the UN press service reported.
At the same time, the status was also awarded to pine agroforestry and the traditional bamboo and fisheries system in the Republic of Korea, as well as to the agrosilvopastoral system in Portugal.
Agricultural heritage
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) are not just beautiful natural landscapes, but also agricultural practices that support rural livelihoods, uniquely combining biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, traditions and innovation.
GIAHS have emerged as a result of the gradual co-development of local communities and the environment. Farming communities have developed ingenious systems that optimize the use of resources while ensuring reasonable, careful management and protection from exploitation. In response to local challenges, local people have developed sustainable agricultural systems based on the conservation and use of traditional knowledge, biodiversity and landscapes.
The sites in Tajikistan, South Korea and Portugal were officially inaugurated under the FAO flagship programme at a meeting of the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group held on 7-8 July 2025. With the latest additions, FAO’s global network of agricultural heritage sites now numbers 99 systems in 29 countries.
Traditions and Innovations in Tajikistan
The integrated agropastoral system in Tajikistan’s Almosi Valley combines seasonal transhumance with the cultivation of grapes, grain, orchards and vegetables in a rugged mountain landscape. Evolved over centuries, it supports food security and livelihoods, and helps preserve agrobiodiversity and cultural heritage. Drawing on traditional knowledge, Almosi Valley communities successfully cope with soil erosion, water scarcity and the impacts of climate change.
The valley has diverse ecosystems and a wide range of crops and livestock, including local varieties of wheat, barley and vegetables, as well as the indigenous Hissar sheep. The pink Taifi grape is central to the valley's identity, prized for its quality and processed into raisins, syrup, juice and wine.
Agriculture is guided by ancestral practices, including contour planting, organic fertilizers, traditional calendaring, sensitivity to natural cues, and ancient irrigation techniques to conserve water. Community governance is coordinated through mahalla committees, family farms, cooperatives, and collective farms, ensuring knowledge transfer, resource sharing, and cultural continuity.
