Comparison of practices

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

Use of water resources

Country: Turkmenistan

Province: Ahal Region

District: Baharly District

Other settlement: Sh. Batyrov Daikhan Association

Country: Kazakhstan

Province: South Kazakhstan Region

District: Maktaaral District

The site is located in the mid streams of the Amu Darya River (desert crust and virgin soils lands)

Rural Water Consumer Cooperatives (RWCC) are located in the tail part of Dostyk and Turkestan Main Canals (TMC)

Start date: 01.01.2014

End date: 31.12.2014

Start date: 01.01.2006

End date: 31.12.2006

Water deficit, poor irrigation technology

Conflicts between water users associated with water distribution;

Loss of water from canals (due to filtration and discharge)

Wheat irrigation technology based on Valley Sprinkling Machine

• Survey among stakeholders,
• Microsoft Excel computer-based planning of water use,
• Seminars to train water users on computer-based technologies and water accounting

The sprinkler is produced by the US Valley Company established in 1946 and considered one of the world leading designers and manufacturers of water-efficient irrigation and water supply equipment for agriculture, industry and municipal purposes.

Actions:

The first case of using such a large-scale sprinkling irrigation machine in Turkmenistan’s agriculture.  The machine’s operation does not require careful field planning.  The machine’s scale (extension up to 1,000 meters) allows it to irrigate up to 300 hectares of land. Frontal installation with reinforced irrigating shoulder bars moves back and forth across the field and ensures uniform watering of the whole acreage.

The government provides a 10-year soft loan with 1% annual interest rate to procure such units.

Results:

Application of water sprinklers allows the two-fold saving of water resources and higher yields. Due to its overall high quality and advantages, Turkmenistan’s agricultural producers became interested in the technology – multiple orders were placed to procure and install such smart sprinkling machines.

Actions:

Based on the location of RWCCs and with the account of recommendations by akimats (local governance bodies), 8 RWCCs were selected to conduct a survey based on specially prepared questionnaires. Survey results showed that the main issues in target rural areas were water distribution among consumers and drawing up water use plans (WUP) for RWCCs. The proceeding trainings seminars focused on exactly these themes. At the end of the year, the monitoring of the introduction of new water distribution methods was conducted.

Results:

Application of this water distribution practice allowed to sharply reduce the quantity of conflict situations as well as nearly eliminate water losses due to filtration at the canals’ headworks and discharge.

Lessons learnt:

Advantage of sprinkling machines:  

• fitting with fertilizer administration units;
• fitting with units for spraying disease, pest and weed control agents;
• capable to replace water spraying tractors;
• no need for seasonal field works;
• lower agricultural production costs.

Recommendations:

After successful testing, other candidates for the installation of irrigation machines declared their corresponding desire (Ashyk Aydyn Daikhan Association of Rukhubelent Etrap of Dashoguz Velayat that already installed a different type of sprinkling system covering 174 hectares).  Since Akhal Region is close to the capital, it is necessary to introduce more water-efficient technologies focusing on garden and cucurbit crops to address food supply issues.

Lessons learnt:

Hourly water distribution allows more flexibility in the context of water deficit. After the trainings for water users and WUAs personnel on hourly water distribution, the number of corresponding conflicts decreased.

Recommendations:

Considering the high turnover of RWCC staff, the trainings should be repeated on annual basis. Hourly water distribution schemes should be used in locations/periods of acute water shortage.

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

Counterpart holds seminars, training courses and programs on effective use of water resources in Kazakhstan with the aim of assisting farmers and other land users in building up their corresponding skills as well as teaching them basic water use principles.  In the course of its collaboration with Counterpart, IWMI analyzed and studied the reclamation condition of irrigated land plots and the technical state of irrigation and drainage networks in Makhtaaral and Turkestan Districts of Southern Kazakhstan Region.

Project title: Support Program for water associations in Southern Kazakhstan

Project duration: 1 year

Project goal and objectives: train water users on new water distribution techniques, computer technologies for drawing WUPs, most simple methods of water accounting.

Project beneficiaries: water consumers

Project implementer: local akimats

Project donor: USAID

http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=7813 

IWMI Report “Training on water management on RWCC level and drawing up the water use plan for Makhtaaral and Turkestan Districts of Southern Kazakhstan Region”, Tashkent 2006

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC