In the last two years in Uzbekistan, 22 trillion soums ($1.8 billion) have been allocated from the budget for water management, including about 1 trillion ($81 million) of subsidies for water-saving technologies. It was announced at the presidential meeting held on October 20.
The head of state noted that in the coming years, the funds allocated for concrete irrigation canals and installation of water-saving technologies will be increased. In particular, it is planned to implement water infrastructure projects worth 1.7 trillion soums from centralized investment and $300 million from international financial organizations in 2024.
He also noted that a 3-year program for concreting irrigation canals will be adopted.
It was emphasized that the “big leap” in agriculture can be achieved only through science. In this regard, a task was set to increase the yield of cotton and wheat by widely applying modern scientific achievements.
It should be recalled that as of January 1, 2023, the state debt of $2.54 billion has been allocated to agriculture and water industry in Uzbekistan.
In an interview with “Uzbekistan 24” TV channel, the Minister of Water Management, Shavkat Khamroyev, noted that the inefficient operation of irrigation networks, the fact that the ditches are not covered with sufficient concrete covers allow about 40% of water to be wasted.
"Of course, the president objected to the waste of about 6-6.5 billion cubic meters of water. We will certainly draw conclusions from these critical points. Special emphasis was placed on concreting the canals. Regional governors and all water management systems were instructed to concrete more than 300 such canals,” he said.
According to him, water-saving technologies are used on 1.2 million hectares of land in Uzbekistan today. It is planned to expand this figure to 300-400 thousand hectares annually and to increase the use of water-saving technologies to 2 million hectares by 2030.
Shavkat Khamroyev noted that together with the Australian Rubicon company, canal management was established in Kasbi and Kamashi districts of Kashkadarya region through digitization. Currently, 26 locations are operating online, he said.
“We need to expand it. For this purpose, we have made investments from China and other developed countries, international financial institutions and undertaken the full digitalization of our industry,” he said.
Earlier, it was reported that 39 billion cubic meters of water was consumed in the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan during the year. Of this, 36% or 14 billion cubic meters of soil was lost in canals and ditches, the president said. Another 5-6 billion cubic meters of water is lost due to outdated irrigation methods.
In April 2023, the Deputy Minister of Water Management Azimjon Nazarov noted that 80% of water resources will come to Uzbekistan from other countries, and 20% will be produced in the country. According to the analysis, by 2030, Uzbekistan will lack 7 billion cubic meters of water. The Ministry emphasized the need to use water wisely.
The increase in drinking water tariffs in Uzbekistan, the reduction of rice cultivation areas in Karakalpakstan, and the fact that Kyrgyzstan has stopped supplying water for irrigation to Kazakhstan indicate that the water crisis in the region is intensifying.
