Comparison of practices

Use of water resources

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

Country: Kazakhstan

Province: Jambyl Region

Country: Uzbekistan

Province: Fergana Region

The site is located in the foothills with significant difference in elevation

• Upper streams (Fergana Region) and mid streams (Syr Darya Region) of the Syr Darya River;
• Shallow occurrence of ground water

Start date: 01.01.2006

End date: 31.12.2007

Start date: 01.01.2010

End date: 31.12.2012

Water erosion, discharge, uneven distribution of irrigation water, poor yields

Overall poor performance of Reclamation Expeditions (RE) and speed of assessment of the reclamation condition of irrigated land

Technique and technology for irrigation based on Simultaneous Impulse Sprinkling Kit (KSID-10S)

GIS-technologies and remote-sensing tools

Actions:

Deployment of the Simultaneous Impulse Sprinkling Kit (KSID-10S) allowing extremely uniform and simultaneous dispersion of irrigation water across all sections of arable pasture or hayfield meadow.  Water expenditure at the impulse device makes 0.05-0.3 l/sec and 0.25-2.0 l/sec in the irrigation pipeline, thus, reducing (3-4 times) the costs associated with the pipeline network installation compared to other sprinkling systems (kits). The pipeline network is built of 15-25 mm diameter pipes easy to transport and assemble in mountainous conditions.

Technical characteristics:

Operation modes: automatic and manual

Irrigated area: 10 ha

Water consumption: up to 100 m³/day

Average sprinkling (rain) intensity: 0.002-0.008 mm/min

EFFICIENCY: 99%

MOC: 98%

Watering automation level: 100%

Results:

• Ensured water supply according to crops requirements with the account of changing weather conditions and moisture deposits in active soil layer;
• Elimination of : 1) water-induced soil erosion, 2) puddling and 3) discharge run-off;
• No need for water recirculation among irrigation sections.

Before the introduction of GIS-technologies, REs performed all operations – including production of maps, identification of areas suffering from land salination, level of ground water mineralization, etc. 

 Actions:

1. Enhancing the technical capacity of REs: provision of necessary equipment and tools, licensed GIS software, GPS devices, equipment for chemical analysis, etc.
2. Enhancing personnel capacities:

• Trainings and consultations of the personnel of Basin Irrigation Water Administrations (BIWAs) and REs abroad and in Uzbekistan;
• Consultations by foreign and local GIS experts;
• Development and distribution of training materials.

 Results: 

Financial and economic:

Reduction of the number of drafting technicians, saving on stationery, etc.

Technical:

Increased productivity and quality of works by RE office personnel.

Lessons learnt:

The advantages of impulse sprinkling irrigation were confirmed by the research efforts on other test sites of KAZNIIVKh in Jambyl Region that allowed increasing biological productivity of Golden Delicious apple variety by 10.1-36.8%, and commercial productivity – by 16.6-49.4% compared to conventional sprinkling irrigation systems.

Recommendations:

It is necessary to continue application of similar practices in foothill areas in Central Asia subject to power supply shortages.

Lessons learnt:

The practice has demonstrated the possibility and efficacy of successful and effective application of GIS-technologies for reclamation as well the overall demand for GIS-technologies and GIS-specialists in other areas (after project completion, the “drain” of GIS-specialists to other industries/organizations started).

Recommendations:

Financial incentives are necessary to keep GIS-specialists in the water sector. It is necessary to scale-up the GIS-practices in other regional REs of Uzbekistan and irrigation-related organizations, including Water User Associations (WUAs).

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

Project title: Application of GIS-technologies for reclamation.

Project duration: Jan 2010-Dec 2012 (3 years).

Project goal and objectives: comprehensive support of Reclamation Expedition (RE) specialists; introduction of new technologies; enhancing RE technical capacities to ensure a more expedient implementation of projects to improve the reclamation condition of irrigated land with the aim of receiving better yields of agricultural goods with the simultaneous maintenance of environmental equilibrium in the area.

Project beneficiaries: Fergana Region and Syr Daria Region Reclamation Expeditions.

Project implementer: Management Department of the Foundation for Reclamation Improvement of Irrigated Land.

"Environmental Digest" Journal, Issue 11, 2012.

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC