Название практики | Water-charging irrigation for rangelands used for growing forage crops | Increasing water availability of desert pastures |
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Category | Water resources | Water resources |
Tool | Irrigation technique and technology | System for enhancing water availability |
Field of application | • Use of water resources |
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Usability of practice for adaptation to climate change | High | High |
Implemented by | Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan and German Technical Cooperation Agency (GIZ) |
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Used by |
Country: Kazakhstan Province: Jambyl Region District: Talas District Other settlement: Village of Sadu Shakirov |
Country: Turkmenistan Province: Ahal Region Other settlement: Yerbent |
Local specifics | The site is located in the desert foothill plain in South-ern Kazakhstan (internal drain area) at the very end of Sharuashlyk Irrigation Canal. |
The site (nearly 842,000 hectares; population of 8,000 people) is located in the Central Kara Kum Desert. The relief is represented by the combination of “barkhans” (sand dunes) of various forms and “takyr” (dry-type playa) depressions. The majority of the area is covered by desert pastures. |
Practice usage period |
Start date: 01.05.2008 End date: 30.04.2009 |
Start date: 01.01.2009 End date: 31.12.2010 |
Problem solved through this practice | Acute water shortage; land degradation in the village of Sadu Shakirov; abandoned irrigated arable lands used only for year-round cattle grazing. For a long time, the irrigation canal was not operation-al and, thus, became dilapidated. The situation in the area was aggravated by climate change impacts (de-creased quantity of early spring, summer and winter precipitation, increased average annual temperature, spring and autumn frost bites and summer droughts). |
As soon as people began to lead a settled life, they shifted away from the traditional way of livestock grazing. The land became subject to strenuous exploitation, especially near settlements and watering sites. Saxaul thickets were cut down for heating and cooking purposes. The thickets were unable to restore over time due to overgrazing. Frequent movement of sand dunes and severe sandstorms threaten not only dwellings and social infrastructure, but also degrade soil and destroy the limited number of available water wells. Degraded pastures fail to yield enough livestock forage. The shortage of watering sites leads to consolidation of large numbers of animals around existing wells. Structural changes in livestock production (more goats and cattle instead of camels; more unprotected pastures around settlements instead of distant pastures) lead to vegetation cover degradation, in particular, around settlements and watering sites. |
Tools used in the practice | Method of autumn and winter water-charging irrigation |
Technology for combatting desertification and droughts by proper management of wells and watering sites (construction and repair of wells, building mechanical protection from reed mats and Saxaul saplings) |
Description of the practice and its results | Actions: Results: Financial and economic: Technical: |
Actions: 8 new wells built and 6 existing wells repaired, and mechanical protection (reed mats and Saxaul saplings) set up on the territory of 27 hectares. Water wells also underwent small-scale repair and construction to expand the area of pasturable land and prevent localized degradation. Results: After the restoration of wells, desert pastures became subject to even and rational use; installation of mechanical protection allowed to stop the approaching sand dunes around settlements. |
Lessons learnt and recommendations made | Lessons learnt: Application of water-charging irrigation demonstrated the efficiency of water use and allowed local popula-tion to go through winter without losing livestock. Recommendations: |
Lessons learnt: The capacity of watering sites was increased by way of improving the existing infrastructure and, where possible, building new wells infrastructure. The newly drilled wells significantly aid local population in maintaining their livestock and households. Recommendations: It is necessary to test traditional drought-resistant grain crops. |
Source of practice | Traditional tools transferred from generation to generation that proved their efficiency in modern conditions |
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Readiness for implementation |
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 |
Brief information on the project | Project title: Fall and early spring Irrigation of arable land and pastures as an adaptation mechanism of ra-tional water use in Southern Kazakhstan Duration: May 1, 2008 – April 30, 2009 Project goal and objectives: reduce land degradation due to climate change by way of rational use of irriga-tion water. The project was implemented to prevent loss of cattle due to forage shortage during alternating droughty years. Project beneficiaries: local population. Project implementer: Kogal LLC |
Project title: Local-level capacity building and investment for sustainable management of land resources. Project duration: 2009-2010. Project goal and objectives: combating desertification and droughts. Project beneficiaries: farmers and representatives of local executive bodies in several settlements. Project implementer: Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan and German Technical Cooperation Agency (GIZ). |
Funding source | Kogal LLC | UNDP and Global Environmental Facility |
Information sources | 1) UNDP Compilation “Climate change adaptation: ex-amples from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan”, Tashkent 2012; |
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Contacts of a person, who filled this form | SIC ICWC |
SIC ICWC |
Form submission date | 29.03.2018 | 17.04.2018 |