Comparison of practices

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

Use of water resources

Country: Tajikistan

Province: Districts of Republican Subordination

District: Rudaki

Other settlement: Radzhabov Farm

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Province: Chuy Region

District: Sokuluk District

• Located in the irrigated agriculture zone;
• Ground water occurrence below 5 meters;
• Typical gray soil, surface slope – 0.04.

The site is located in a semi-drought zone subject to acute shortage of water resources in summer period and land degradation

Start date: 01.01.2000

End date: 31.12.2003

Start date: 01.01.2011

End date: 31.12.2011

Shortage of irrigation water;
Poor yields;
Low irrigation efficiency;
Eroded soil;
Low income of farmers.

Extremely low water availability (supply) of pastures; the quantity of cattle in watering sites below standard; land erosion

Corn drip irrigation system

Technology of springs arrangement for stock watering

Actions:

• Project design and budgeting, procurement of drip irrigation system;
• Installation of drip irrigation system, corn planting and cultivation, crop care;
• Accounting of water and resources.

Results:

Financial and economic:

increased labor productivity and farmer incomes, reduced production costs.

Ecological:

production of ecologically clean goods; prevention of water losses and soil erosion as well as improving soil ecological and reclamation condition.

Technical:

twofold (52%) increase of corn yields compared to furrow irrigation, 51% saving of irrigation water.

Social:

increased wellbeing of local residents due to better agricultural yields; reduced hard manual labor.

Actions:

At first, the exact location of water outcrop was identified and cleaned from mud.  15 meters below the outcrop, 3 interconnected water tubs were installed (each 1.8 m long, 0.5 m wide and 0.5 deep).  Each subsequent tub is located lower than the preceding one, thus, allowing water flowing down in the cascade manner.

Results:

Financial and economic:

Cattle gaining weight quicker.

Technical:

Improved water supply in the area, including for cattle watering.

Lessons learnt:

Application of drip irrigation ensures higher corn productivity and water saving as well as allows improving soil structure, watering efficiency, etc.

Recommendations:

It is necessary to widely introduce drip irrigation systems to build up the efficiency of water and land resources, reduce manual labor costs and save irrigation water.

Lessons learnt:

Collection of water in one place had been practiced since ancient times, but was forgotten over time.  Rehabilitation of traditional practices should be welcomed.

Recommendations:

Similar practices should be scaled-up and continued as they not only benefit the local population, but also allow enhancing water availability for wild animals and expanding hayfield meadows.

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

Traditional tools transferred from generation to generation which demonstrate their relevance in modern conditions

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha: $3,500/ha

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Needed at implementation stage

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: Drip irrigation of corn in Gissar District.

Project duration: early 2000-late 2003.

Project goal and objectives: introduction of drip irrigation systems for corn; observance of optimal irrigation mode(s) and techniques ensuring 100 dt/ha and above corn yields with minimal energy consumption in the conditions of the Gissar Valley.

Project beneficiaries: land and water users of Yu. Radzhabov Farm

Project implementer: NPO “TajikNIIGiM”.

Research report by NPO “TajikNIIGiM”, Dushanbe, 2003, 46 p.

WOCAT.net, Mr. Abdybek Asanaliyev (e-mail: asanaly61@mail.ru), Kyrgyz National Agriculture University, Bishkek

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC