Comparison of practices

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Country: Uzbekistan

Province: Namangan Region

District: Pap District

Transboundary river

Foothill droughty area; extremely water pervious soils with pebble bed; the site is located below the Zhijdalisoj Water Reservoir

Start date: 01.04.2012

End date: 31.10.2016

Start date: 01.01.2013

End date: 31.12.2014

Imperfections of the water management mechanism in the Isfara small transboundary river basin

Irrational use of irrigation water and fertilizers; deficit of electric power; low soil bonitet; poor crops productivity; poor quality of agricultural products; soil erosion

The principle of stakeholder engagement in decision-making associated with water management of small transboundary river;

IWRM planning technique

Free-flow drip irrigation system (DIS)

The river originates in Kyrgyzstan in Ak-Suu Glacier on the northern slope of the Turkestan Ridge 3,193 m above sea level.  The Ak-Suu ruins are located close to the river source.  Near the settlement of Karavshin, the river is called the same name.  Crossing the national border, the river merges with the Kshemysh River (Kshemyshsai) and, further on, the river receives the name of Isfara.

 Actions:

Establishment of stakeholder groups, i.e. Small Basin Councils (SBC) representing local authorities, NGOs, water users and local communities.  SBC secretariats independently hold internal semi-annual meetings.  Thus, the SBCs serve as platforms to exchange opinions and information as well as take joint decisions associated with the enhancement of the overall situation in the river basin.

Results:

Creation of national Small Basin Councils (SBC) on the Isfara River allowed a platform for exchanging opinions and information as well as for drawing joint decisions to improve the overall situation in the Isfara River Basin, including the development of the IWRM basin plan for the target basin.

Actions:

Free-flow DIS was installed at the Zhijdalisoj Water Reservoir and was connected to the already operating gravity irrigation piping network. Due to the elevation difference between the pipe inlet and outlet (at the point of entry to the irrigated site) the system generates natural water pressure allowing free-flow DISs installed in gardens to operate without any pumping equipment, i.e. electricity.

Results:

Technical:

thanks to free-flow DIS, water and fertilizers are distributed evenly, strictly according to corresponding norms, in due time and economically (water saving - up to 50%).

Financial and economic:

increased (by 30-40%) crop yields and improved yield quality.

350,000 sum/ha ($150/ha) saved due to electricity saving and no need to repair pumping equipment.

Lessons learnt:

Introduction of IWRM principles is the pre-requisite of stable and fair water supply irrespective of a given water user’s location.

Recommendations:

Currently, when local stakeholders are represented in SBCs and are engaged in joint water management, it is necessary to hold thematic seminars to ensure sustainability of SBC operations in the future.  In the long term, it might be possible to establish a joint body to manage the whole river basin.

Lessons learnt:

Application of natural (gravity-based) water pressure allows making DISs more affordable for farms located on slope acreage of mountain foothills.

Recommendations:

It is necessary to carry out research to identify locations where free-flow DISs could work thanks to natural water pressure.

Foreign tools (transfer of foreign experience)

Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations)

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: Moderate

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha: $2-2.5,000

3. O&M costs: Moderate

4. Expert support: Needed at implementation stage

Development and implementation of basin plans constitute principal elements of integrated water resources management.  Multi-agency coordination mechanism via basin councils or coordination groups is an important advantage of IWRM.  This approach allows streamlined coordination and synergy of actions on all levels of management hierarchy.

Project title: Stakeholder partnership in joint policy-making: assistance to transboundary cooperation in small watersheds of Central Asia.

Project duration: Apr 2012-Oct 2016

Project goal and objectives: introduction of the integrated water resources management (IWRM) practice in three transboundary watersheds and its scaling-up in Central Asia.

Project beneficiaries: communities of the Isfara small transboundary river basin, specialists of water and environmental agencies, farmers.

Project implementer: USAID/CAREC.

Project title: Innovative science and technological work “Introduction of DISs using natural water pressure in areas adjacent to foothill water reservoirs”.

Project duration: 2013-2014.

Project goal and objectives: create DISs operating without pumping equipment.

Project beneficiaries: employees of Zhijdalisoj Water Reservoir of the Naryn-Syr Darya BISA (Basin Irrigation System Administration).

Project implementer: State Committee on Science and Technology  of the Republic of Uzbekistan (SCST of the RUz).

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SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC