What efforts are being made to mitigate the situation? Kun.uz correspondent interviewed the Minister of Water Resources Shavkat Khamrayev.

- Shavkat Rakhimovich, in recent years 35-40% of ice sources that supplied water to Central Asia have melted. And these processes are accelerating from year to year. We feel the lack of water every day in our lives, but we do not feel the measures taken by the ministry in this regard.

- The fact that you do not see our actions does not mean that nothing is being done. On November 30, the Law on Water and Water Use was amended. In total, over the past 3 years, two resolutions, three presidential decrees and four decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers have been adopted in this area. 

At the press conference, we also noted that the introduction of water-saving technologies and drip irrigation has increased 9 times over the past 3 years.

In this regard, the procedure for providing subsidies to farmers and local enterprises producing water-saving technologies is simplified. These technologies fully satisfy not only domestic but also export demand.

Drip and rainwater irrigation technologies were first applied in the Navoi region, and recently a similar enterprise was launched in the Khorezm region. Such enterprises also operate in Fergana, Andijan and Namangan regions.

Modern pumps and motors are now completely manufactured in our factory.

- You are talking about subsidies, but farmers argue that the conditions for receiving subsidies are still difficult and their current conditions do not match them. Perhaps the conditions for obtaining subsidies should be made easier?

- Nobody ever has a lot of money. Even in the current situation, we are seeing many positive results. We show farmers who are not happy with subsidies the fields of these highly efficient farmers. We convince farmers that this is possible.

Such technologies allow saving not only water, but also mineral fertilizers, and the labor of irrigators. Overall, water-efficient technologies cut conventional costs by 50%. The yield also increases by 10-15%. I repeat, the only solution to the water shortage problem is water-saving technologies.