Название практики | Using drip irrigation systems in combination with soil mulching with polyethylene film | Establishment and development of WUAs, enhancement of technical capacities of intra-farm irrigation and drainage infrastructure |
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Category | Water resources | Water resources |
Tool | Drip irrigation system |
Public participation principle Other: Methods of integrating water users and WUAs |
Field of application |
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Usability of practice for adaptation to climate change | Moderate | Moderate |
Implemented by | K-DEN Farm |
Department of Water Management and Reclamation of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of the Kyrgyz Republic with the support of the World Bank |
Used by |
Country: Kazakhstan Province: Almaty region District: Alakol District Other settlement: Yntaly Rural District (320 km away from Taldykorgan (region center)) |
Country: Kyrgyzstan Province: Talas Region |
Local specifics | Foothill area |
Water User Associations (WUAs) are located in the western and central parts of the Tien Shan Mountains - from the Fergana Valley in the west to the central part of the Tien Shan in the east, from Kazakhstan in the north to the northern part of the Pamir in the south. The territory of Kyrgyzstan stretches for 900 km from west to east and for 410 km from north to south (approximately between latitudes of 39N and 43N). Scale of coverage: 450 WUAs with the serviced area of 736 000 ha; the intra-farm infrastructure consisting of 22.7 thous. km of irrigation canals (including 5.5 thous. km lined and in trays), 4.3 thous. km of open and closed collector and drainage networks, over 250 pools of daily and decade-based regulation, about 20 thous. units of hydro-engineering facilities. |
Practice usage period |
Start date: 01.01.2008 End date: 31.12.2010 |
Start date: 01.01.2001 End date: 31.12.2013 |
Problem solved through this practice | After disintegration of large agricultural enterprises (state farms), the maintenance of inter- and intra-farm irrigation systems – that were earlier on the balance of state farms – appeared to exceed the technical capacity of small-scale private and owner-operated farms. Due to this reason, in the majority of agricultural districts the tray irrigation networks got out of order. The wear of the lion’s share of hydraulic engineering facilities in Alakol District reached nearly 70% leading to water losses associated with crops watering – the analysis showed that 40% of water was lost to filtration and evaporation. In its turn, that resulted in ineffective and irrational use of water resources and contraction of irrigated land area. For example, whereas in 2003 water intake for irrigation amounted to 195 mln m3, in 2009 it decreased to 114.8 mln m3 (41.1% drop). Issue: Low efficiency of irrigation water due to wear of hydraulic engineering facilities/installations (tray irrigation system). |
After the country obtained independence, collective and state farms split into multiple small household and country farms, and the water management sector of Kyrgyzstan faced typical transition challenges, including the following key ones:
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Tools used in the practice | Drip irrigation in combination with soil mulching with polyethylene film |
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Description of the practice and its results | Drip irrigation combined with filming has been widely adopted around the world in vegetable and cucurbits cultivation. Thanks to long moisture preservation and proper thermal balance achieved under film, deployment of this technology allows reducing the overall need for irrigation water and receiving earlier and higher crop yields. Actions: The K-DEN Farm was offered to apply drip irrigation through film cover on the area of 5 hectares in Yntaly Rural District. The technique was adapted for project site by Doctor of Engineering R.I. Vagapov. The recommended technology is the most available to local farmers and ensures significant saving of irrigation water. Necessary resources: 1) seeds of vegetable and cucurbit crops; 2) polyethylene film; 3) equipment (DT-75 tractor, seeder, cultivator); 4) labor for preparatory works, sowing and harvest campaigns; 5) expert consultations and training. Results: Financial and economic: The yield of vegetable and cucurbit crops increased twofold compared to two previous years allowing the farm to receive the profit of $12,000/ha in spite of the fact that the whole yield was sold at low price to the local population of Eastern Kazakhstan and Almaty Regions. In particular, the productivity of vegetable crops amounted to 350-400 dt/ha, and cucurbits – 400 dt/ha. Technical: Water saving made 220,040 m3. |
Actions: Within the framework of the first World Bank Project “Intra-Farm Irrigation” (PVO-1), in the course of 5-6 years more than 450 WUAs were established which are currently independently servicing the intra-farm irrigation network supplying water to over 700 thous. ha of agricultural land. In addition, the intra-farm water supply networks of 354 WUAs were fully re-balanced from the books of rural administrations and other economic entities. 1,138 km of intra-farm irrigation and 142.3 km of collector and drainage networks, 32 day run-off ponds, 3,401 hydro-posts, etc. underwent rehabilitation. Trainings on all aspects of WUA operation (administration, financial management, water use, O&M of WUA irrigation infrastructure, legal framework of WUA activities, monitoring) were conducted covering over 48 thous. WUA members. The Law of the KR “On Water User Unions (Associations)” was adopted (February 2002). 35 Water Management Councils covering 229.4 thous. ha of irrigated land were established. In addition, 14 Unions (Federations) of Water User Associations covering 121.7 thous. ha of irrigated land were created and underwent legal registration across the country. The purposes of such Unions are joint operation and technical maintenance of intra-farm networks located within their respective service zones. In early 2008, the 2nd Project “Intra-Farm Irrigation” (PVO-2) was launched to extend further support to, build the capacity of and train about 500 WUAs in all regions of the republic. Out of them, 29 WUAs covering the irrigated area of approx. 51,000 ha executed rehabilitation operations and upgraded their irrigation and drainage systems. Within the framework of implementing this practice, WUAs received assistance to ensure their ability to effectively and productively use the rehabilitated intra-farm irrigation systems in a sustainable manner with the special focus on water resources and assets management. Results: The practice facilitated capacity building of WUAs, improving of water resources management by WUAs as well as enhancing the technical capacities of intra-farm and drainage infrastructure. |
Lessons learnt and recommendations made | Lessons learnt: The practice of drip irrigation in combination with the application of polyethylene film has increased the efficiency of water use and crops productivity as well as reduced labor needs. Recommendations: The widespread deployment of water-saving technologies requires the presence of effective financial incentives for at water consumers.
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Lessons learnt: The newly established farm-level institutions – Water User Associations – ensure uniform and stable delivery of irrigation water from state water management organizations to final water users. Recommendations: At present, the capacities of WUAs as well as WUA Unions (Federation) are rather low. Considering the fact that WUAs represent the weakest link in water hierarchy and the role of water users in addressing the tasks of national food, water and environmental security, the government should find ways to support (first of all, financially) WUAs and WUA Unions (Federations). Training of WUA personnel on all aspects of associations’ activities should be carried out on annual basis. |
Source of practice |
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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: Integrated preservation of globally significant wetlands as dwelling places of migrating birds. Project duration: May 2008-Sept 2010. Project goal and objectives: assessment of agro-economic and environmental efficiency of technology of sprinkling irrigation on vegetable crops; establishment of optimum watering regimes for vegetable crops based on mist sprinkling irrigation. Project beneficiaries: peasants (farmers) and agricultural producers. Project implementer: K-DEN Farm |
Project title: Intra-Farm Irrigation (PVO-1 and PVO-2). Project duration: 2001-2013 (13 years). Project goal and objectives: establish, develop and strengthen WUAs as well as rehabilitate intra-farm irrigation and drainage infrastructure. Project beneficiaries: water users and WUAs. Project implementer: Department of Water Management and Reclamation of the MoA of Kyrgyzstan |
Funding source | GEF/UNDP, K-DEN Farm | World Bank |
Information sources | K-DEN Farm, Mr. Afrikan Konstantinovich Kim, farm head (ph.: +7 701 227 27 49, +7 701 672 85 85) |
Online publications:
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Contacts of a person, who filled this form | SIC ICWC |
SIC ICWC |
Form submission date | 30.03.2018 | 18.05.2018 |