Comparison of practices

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Province: Osh Region

District: Nookat District

Country: Kazakhstan

Province: South Kazakhstan Region

District: Maktaaral 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.

• Upstream (Ferghana) and midstream (Syr Darya) of the Syr Darya River
• Ebb occurrence of highly mineralized ground water

Start date: 01.01.2013

End date: 31.12.2016

Start date: 01.01.1965

End date: 31.12.1975

Conflicts due to disputes over water resources and pastures

Deterioration of reclamation situation: rising of ground water, land salination

Repair works to restore irrigation networks and infrastructure

Technique and technology of land reclamation via a system of vertical drainage wells (VDW)

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 VDW system set up. Prior to its installation, the area was drained via a horizontal open-type drain-age network ineffective as to reducing the mass of salinized land.

Comprehensive VDW efforts significantly enhanced drainage.

However, currently due to the absence of a single organization responsible for VDW operation, maintenance and repair, the VDW systems recon-structed under World Bank and Asian Development Bank projects do not perform as effectively as ini-tially.

Results:

Financial and economic:
Increased cotton yields (from 10-15 up to 30-35 dt/ha).

Technical:
Successful response to land salination in 3 districts: ground water table steadily kept at 2-3 m depth leading to a sharp contraction of salinized land area.

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:

In due time, the model proved useful and timely, as the country urgently needed to increase its cotton yields. The practice demonstrated high efficiency of VDW in combatting land salination.

Recommendations:

1. Establish a special VDW System Maintenance and Operation Department;
2. Build personnel capacity:
• Continual training of personnel in the Department and Provincial Hydrogeological and Land Reclamation Expedition;
• Drafting and distribution of training materi-als.

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:

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)

Reshetkina N.M. et al. “Vertical Drainage”, Moscow: Kolos, 1978. – 319 p.

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC