Irrigation - The Times Of Central Asia

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Agriculture

Kyrgyzstan Prepares for Spring Field Work

Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobaev, has reported to parliament on the country's preparations for the 2025 spring agricultural season. Key topics discussed included the reconstruction of irrigation facilities, the availability of fuel, seeds, and fertilizers, and the issuance of soft loans for purchasing agricultural machinery. According to Torobaev, the government has secured 42,000 tons of diesel fuel and 12,000 tons of gasoline to support farmers. This year’s total sowing area will cover 1.25 million hectares, an increase of 3,300 hectares from the previous year, which is expected to result in a larger harvest. Irrigation System Challenges Judging by questions raised by deputies from various regions, the main concern for farmers remains irrigation water supply. The discussion covered the construction of additional irrigation canals and the overall condition of the country’s irrigation system. Last year, a drought and deteriorating irrigation infrastructure led to significant water shortages for farmers, prompting widespread criticism of the Ministry of Agriculture. In response, the ministry developed a plan to construct dozens of Seasonal Regulation Basins, reservoirs designed to store excess water from snowmelt and rainfall for use in dry months. By 2028, the ministry aims to build 106 of these reservoirs. Seed and Fertilizer Supply Deputies also inquired about the availability of seeds ahead of spring planting. Torobaev gave assurances that 90% of the required seed volume has already been secured, and there will be no shortages of seeds, fertilizers, or pesticides. “This year, 64,600 tons of grain seeds will be sown. As of today, 58,500 tons have been accumulated, ensuring 91% of the required supply. For crops such as cereals, rice, tobacco, legumes, and soybeans, we are fully stocked at 100%,” Torobaev stated. Additionally, more than 12 million fruit and berry seedlings have been prepared for planting in state nurseries, with mineral fertilizers and pesticides actively being stocked. Advancements in Irrigation In southern Kyrgyzstan, enhanced water-saving irrigation has already begun. This technique involves providing crops with a high volume of water early in the growing season, which promotes better growth, increases stress resistance, and improves soil structure.

Agriculture

Kazakhstan to Launch Production of 1,000 Sprinkler Irrigation Machines Per Year

Kazakhstan has begun domestic production of sprinkler irrigation machines under the SU BEREKE brand, with the ADAM Group of Companies manufacturing 30 units in 2024, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Sprinkler irrigation systems help distribute water evenly across fields, reducing consumption by 30% to 40%. This year, ADAM plans to scale up production. By April, the company will open a second plant in East Kazakhstan, increasing output to 1,000 sprinkler machines annually. The new facility is expected to reduce Kazakhstan’s dependence on imported equipment. Locally manufactured sprinklers will also be exported to neighboring Central Asian countries. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has previously criticized the slow adoption of water-saving practices in Kazakh agriculture, citing annual water losses of up to 40% in some regions. He has set a national target to introduce water-saving technologies on 150,000 hectares of land each year. To support this initiative, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the Ministry of Agriculture raised subsidies for farmers investing in water-saving irrigation systems from 50% to 80% in 2023. Additionally, the government increased subsidies for farmers using such technologies, covering 85% of irrigation water costs. Kazakhstan’s agricultural land spans 23.3 million hectares, of which 1.9 million hectares are irrigated, primarily in the arid southern regions. However, the adoption of water-efficient technologies remains limited. In 2023, only 17% of irrigated land (312,000 hectares) used these systems, with drip irrigation covering just 84,000 hectares.

Water Supply

Kyrgyzstan Reports Increase in Irrigation Water Supply

As Kyrgyzstan seeks to expand the production and export of environmentally friendly organic agricultural products, ensuring a stable supply of irrigation water remains a crucial issue for both local farmers and government authorities responsible for the country’s irrigation infrastructure. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Kyrgyzstan has 498 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 1.8 billion cubic meters of irrigation water. During the 2025 growing season, this water will be used to irrigate 1.022 million hectares of farmland across the country. Infrastructure Improvements and Modernization To prevent water shortages in 2025, the ministry undertook extensive improvements to irrigation infrastructure in 2024. A total of 626 kilometers of irrigation canals were improved, including: 93 km repaired 32 km lined with concrete 500 km cleaned Additionally, repairs were carried out on key pumping stations, and efforts to introduce drip and sprinkler irrigation methods are underway on 1,484 hectares of farmland. Innovative Irrigation Solutions Kyrgyzstan is also adopting new technologies to improve water management. British company Concrete Canvas is set to build a plant in the country to produce flexible concrete material designed to line irrigation canals, preventing erosion and reducing water seepage. Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobayev emphasized the significance of this innovation. He noted that Kyrgyzstan has 30,000 kilometers of irrigation canals, including 11,000 km of unsurfaced canals, and that applying concrete lining will help reduce water losses and improve efficiency. Water Cooperation with Kazakhstan While Kyrgyzstan continues efforts to meet domestic irrigation needs, it also plays a key role in supplying water to downstream Kazakhstan, particularly its arid southern regions, where irrigation is vital for agriculture.

Water Management

Kazakhstan Secures 11 Billion Cubic Meters of Irrigation Water from Central Asian Neighbors

Kazakhstan will receive 11 billion cubic meters of irrigation water by April 2025 under an agreement reached in Dushanbe at a meeting of the Interstate Water Management Coordination Commission of Central Asia. The meeting brought together water management officials from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Discussions focused on managing water resources in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya River basins. The allocated volume will flow into the Shardara Reservoir in Kazakhstan’s Turkestan region via the Syr Darya River. Of this total, 1.6 billion cubic meters will be directed to the Aral Sea to support its ecosystem. Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, stated that the agreement will help the country secure sufficient irrigation water for the upcoming agricultural season while sustaining ecosystems in southern Kazakhstan. Nurzhigitov highlighted the stark contrast between the south and other parts of the country: “There are no large-scale floods in the south as there are in the west and north. In the summer, the demand for irrigation water is extremely high. That’s why we take a different approach to water management in the south, where water diplomacy is a priority. Through negotiations, we ensured an uninterrupted water supply to the region last year. We continue to resolve water distribution and transboundary water protection issues in cooperation with our Central Asian colleagues.” Kazakhstan’s agriculture, particularly in its arid southern regions, depends heavily on irrigation water from upstream Central Asian neighbors. As a result, regional water management remains a crucial factor in both economic and political relations among the countries of Central Asia.

Water Management

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Collaborate on Syr Darya River Automation to Improve Water Management

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are moving forward with plans to install ten automated measuring stations along the Syr Darya River, a project aimed at improving water resource management. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia in September 2024, this initiative was first discussed during meetings between Uzbek Minister of Water Resources Shavkat Khamroyev and Kazakh Minister of Water Resources Nurzhan Nurzhigitov. The discussions focused on automating and digitizing water accounting in the river basin. On January 7, the two countries announced that they had agreed to develop technical specifications for the project. Five stations will be installed in each country, with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) assisting in the development of draft technical specifications. Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing with international financial institutions to secure funding for the project. “This is just the beginning,” stated Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurlan Aldamjarov. “Only the first ten sections have been identified so far, but we aim to automate all major hydro posts and ensure complete transparency in water accounting. We are also actively addressing this issue in talks with our Kyrgyz and Tajik counterparts.” The automation of water management systems is a critical step for both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as the Syr Darya River plays a vital role in supporting agriculture and ensuring water security in the region.

Irrigation

Kazakhstan’s Southern Region Receives Full Irrigation Water Supply from Kyrgyzstan

This year, five districts in Kazakhstan’s southern Zhambyl region—Kordai, Merke, Baizak, Zhambyl, and Talas—were fully supplied with irrigation water from the transboundary Shu and Talas rivers, which flow from neighboring Kyrgyzstan. The announcement was made by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. In April, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan agreed on a joint water intake schedule for the 2024 irrigation season. As part of this agreement, Kazakhstan received 418 million cubic meters of water from the Talas River, exceeding the planned 380 million cubic meters and surpassing last year’s allocation by 94.2 million cubic meters. Additionally, along the Shu River (called Chu in Kyrgyzstan), Kazakhstan was allocated 165.3 million cubic meters, 29.7 million cubic meters more than in 2023. “Farmers in the Zhambyl region were fully provided with irrigation water according to their needs,” stated Kairat Amanov, director of the Zhambyl branch of Kazvodkhoz. In total, 533.3 million cubic meters of water were delivered, irrigating 90,100 hectares of farmland. Kazvodkhoz, a division of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, is responsible for managing the nation’s irrigation infrastructure, including canals and reservoirs. Kazakhstan’s agriculture, especially in its arid southern regions, relies heavily on irrigation water from Kyrgyzstan. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan faces its water management challenges. The water level of Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake, has been declining, partly due to the diversion of feeder rivers for local irrigation and to meet downstream agricultural needs in Kazakhstan. Although the Shu River does not directly feed Lake Issyk-Kul, it originates in the Issyk-Kul region and could have been utilized to irrigate nearby farmland. Instead, it plays a critical role in supporting Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region. This allocation highlights Kyrgyzstan’s significant role in Central Asia’s water policies and its ongoing efforts to maintain cooperative relations with neighboring countries on key water and energy issues.