Comparison of practices

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Province: Osh Region

District: Nookat District

Country: Kazakhstan

Province: Almaty region

District: Karasay District

The northeastern part of Osh Region lies in the Tien Shan spurs (Fergana Range) with the Pamir-Altai Mountains in the south and west (Turkestan, Alai, Trans-Alai (Lenin Peak) Ridges.  The climate in the region is sharp continental.  The Kyzyl-Suu, Ak-Buura and Kara Darya are the largest rivers in the area used for irrigation.

Foothill zone in southeastern Kazakhstan, dark-chestnut and middle loamy soils

Start date: 01.01.2013

End date: 31.12.2016

Start date: 01.01.2014

End date: 31.12.2016

Conflicts due to disputes over water resources and pastures

Irrigation-associated soil erosion, low efficiency of applied watering techniques, poor phytosanitary condition of land used for vegetable growing

Repair works to restore irrigation networks and infrastructure

Technique and technology of mist sprinkling irrigation

Disputes over water resources and pastures can lead to conflicts, in particular among the communities living in border zones in the Fergana Valley.  Every year, this urgent issue gains even more relevance as - according to expert forecasts – by 2020 Kyrgyzstan’s population may reach 7 mln 70% of which will live in rural communities.

Actions:

The project to rehabilitate irrigation canals aimed to improve access to water resources and pastures for local residents.  The project also promoted introduction of equal-right practices in the sphere of water resources and pastures management among local population.  All project actions targeted the improvement of living conditions of local residents and decreasing tensions.

Results:

On June 8, 2016, Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) held the ceremonial opening of 5 repaired irrigation canals in Nookat District of Osh Region.  Repair works to rehabilitate the irrigation canals were co-funded by Nookat District Water Management Administration, ajyl aimaks (Kyrg. rural local governance bodies) and local residents themselves.

Financial and economic:

• residents of Nookat District, nearby villages of Aravan District and the town of Kyzyl-Kiya gained access to irrigation water;
• farmer incomes grew thanks to addressing the issue of irrigation water shortage.

Environmental:

The condition of over 4,000 ha (irrigated land) improved.

Technical results:

The total length of all repaired irrigation canals exceeded 10,900 meters.

Social results:

• living conditions of local residents improved;
• tensions associated with the use of water and pastures in Fergana Valley border zones decreased.

Actions:

A sprinkler (artificial rain irrigation) system installed consisting of 50 mm diameter polyethylene pipes assembled from 10-12 meter segments (5022 SD sprinkler; 3.5 bar pressure; 3.5 mm nozzles; water consumption of 0.87 m3/hour; water distribution area per 1 sprinkler – 12 m).

Results:

Financial and economic:
Compared to ridge-and-furrow watering method, sprinkler irrigation led to a yield increase for the following crops:
• carrots – 15.64%,
• cabbage – 12.78%,
• sweet pepper – 14.19%.

Technical:
• up to 20% reduced irrigation water consumption,
• prevention of irrigation-induced soil erosion,
• improved phytosanitary condition of vegetable fields.

Lessons learnt:

Repair and restoration of irrigation infrastructure facilitated the improvement of living conditions among local population, decreased tensions and disputes associated with water and pasture use in border zones of the Fergana Valley, and enhanced farmer welfare.

Recommendations:

The practice yielded positive outcomes and is recommended for further scaling-up to improve the welfare and ensure sustainable development of mountain communities in border zones.

Lessons learnt:
The practice demonstrated the possibility of effec-tive water use, reducing labor costs, and increasing yields of several horticultural crops simultaneously.

Recommendations:
Widespread introduction of sprinkler-based mist irrigation systems along with drip irrigation and other advanced water-efficient technologies is necessary. In order to ensure that, water users should have strong financial incentives to facilitate water saving.

Foreign tools (transfer of foreign experience)

• Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations),
• Foreign tools (transfer of foreign experience)

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

Project title: Improving infrastructure and building capacity of relevant local institutes on effective management of water and pasture resources.

Project duration: 2013-2016.

Project goal and objectives: enhance welfare and ensure sustainable development of mountain communities, prevent conflicts, facilitate stability and security of using natural resources in border zones.

Scale of implementation and project beneficiaries: populations of Nookat and Aravan Districts, town of Kyzyl-Kiya.

Project implementer: Mountain Societies Development Support Programme Kyrgyzstan (MSDSP KG).

Mountain Partnership Member News (www.ekois.net)

The PhD thesis “Efficiency of mist (sprinkler) irriga-tion technology for vegetable crops in southeastern Kazakhstan” describing a vegetable (cabbage, carrots, sweet pepper) cultivation technology based on fine sprinkling irrigation developed for the first time for soil and climatic conditions of foothill zone in southeastern Kazakhstan, including an optimal mode of vegetables irrigation via fine overhead sprinkler-based irrigation was developed, as well as analyzing the effects of sprinkler irrigation on biomass formation and crops capacity.

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC