MEETING OF KAZAKHSTAN-CHINESE JOINT COMMISSION
ON TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS’ USE AND PROTECTION
The first meeting of the Kazakhstan-Chinese joint commission on transboundary rivers’ use and protection was held on October 27-31, 2003 in Beijing.
Main issues of Joint Commission meeting agenda are following:
- development and adoption of “Provision” about its activity and solution of relevant issues of implementing intergovernmental agreements “About cooperation in transboundary rivers’ use and protection” of September 12, 2001.
- Coordination of Joint Commission work plan for 2004.
On all discussed issues the parties have prepared and signed Joint Commission meeting protocol.
It was decided to organize next Joint Commission meeting in Almaty in 2004.
ASSIGNMENTS
Mr. Byashimklych Kalandarov was assigned as Minister of Water Management of Turkmenistan by Decree of President of Turkmenistan S. Niyazov.
FIELD WORKSHOP UNDER «IWRM-FERGHANA» PROJECT
Field Workshop “Dissemination of “IWRM-Ferghana” project experience on irrigation water and land efficiency increase” was held on 29 of October 2003 in WUA “Zhapalak”, Karasu rayon, Osh oblast.
Manager of “IWRM-Ferghana” project office in Osh A.S. Satybaldiyev opened this workshop. He underlined that main workshop goal was dissemination among farmers of the Kyrgyz Republic of experience in effectively organizing irrigation and land treatment with purpose of increasing water-land use efficiency accumulated by “IWRM-Ferghana” project experts on demonstration plots of Osh oblast. To that end, farmers from adjacent private farms and project partners – experts, farmers of demonstration plots, engineers, monitors were invited.
A.S. Satybaldiyev presented report “New organizational water management structure and its role for water allocation uniformity and water efficiency increase”, where he told about goals and tasks of the project as well as significance of results obtained for agriculture and water resources management, briefly touched the problems presently existing in Kyrgyzstan in waster management as well as about their solution ways. To improve water management in Aravan-Akbura Canal new administration was formed, which was charged with area of Karasu and Aravan rayons.
In presentation on theme “”IWRM-Ferghana” project experience” in water and land efficiency increase on demonstration plots Sh. Mukhamejanov and C.A. Nerozin on results of first observation year data analysis (2002) told farmers of Kyrgyzstan about shortfalls in irrigation water use as well as land treatment, ways and opportunities of agricultural crop yield increase under effective irrigation water use in private farms. Water account methods and agricultural production process management approaches, demonstration field certificates, and optimal technological irrigation schemes were demonstrated. Reporters stated about preliminary of monitoring results 2003, having underlined that eliminated technological shortfalls of last year allowed significant crop yield capacity increase.
Further I. Abdullayev, water management expert from IWMI, presented report “Water distribution over on-farm tertiary canals”, where described experience of applying, within project frameworks, “varabandi” – water distribution at tertiary canal level. Experiment was carried out at canal “Sokolok”, WUA “Zhapalak” area, having identified certain opportunities of water distribution uniformity improvement. Specific technical efforts and water users’ discipline are required.
In his report “Irrigation water efficiency increase on example of water saving practice” manager of IWMI Field Office B. Matyakubov described basic results obtained in 2001-2002 on field-indicators, private farms and rayvodkhozes under «Best Practices» project, and also gave information of water saving approaches applied on monitoring objects.
Oblast executor on activity “Water and land use efficiency” at farm level over Osh oblast K. Avazov briefly noted monitoring organization and land treatment on demonstration plots of p/f Sandyk, Toloikon, Nursultan-Aly, submitted comparative assessment of monitoring results obtained in 2002-2003, presented examples of irrigation water use reduction and wheat and cotton yield capacity increase in 2003 in result of agricultural production process management.
Project Engineer on p/f Toloikon U. Abdurakhmanov told about problems regarding irrigation water use and land treatment conduction in 2002. In this year agricultural production process on demonstration plot was implemented on base of recommendations given by project experts with taking into account study of soil-reclamation conditions of the private farm and analysis of results 2002 with using field certificate and individual checklist.
On demonstration plot of p/f Toloikon in 2003 yield capacity was 44 center/ha that exceeded last year result by 14 center/ha under more careful irrigation water use.
Than workshop participants visited demonstration plots in private farms Sandyk and Nursultan-Aly. Engineers Sh. Kayumov (p/f Sandyk) and R. Dolonov (Nursultan-Aly) showed water metering devices, equipment for determining evaporation and precipitation, soil corer, demonstrated metering devices operation, how and for what water measurements are fulfilled at weirs, definition of soil humidity, evaporation, and precipitation. They also demonstrated “Field work logbooks”, where measurement data brought in, and primary data processing is carried out.
The engineers noted that in result of timely and fixed irrigation water and fertilizers application, land treatment significant yield increment was obtained in 2003. In p/f Sandyk daily monitoring of crop allowed timely identification of vermin and their liquidation. First row cotton gathering and collected quantity of unopened bolls in this farm prove substantial exceeding of last year yield level.
Opinions exchange expressed many issues such as purchasing fertilizers, applying toxic chemicals, proper organization of water distribution and water account at tertiary canals, irrigation techniques, optimal furrow length. How and what norms of irrigation should be appointed, if determined soil humidity in opposite ends of the field is different? What to do, if irrigation is necessary only in the middle of the field? What to do, if water is blocked without warning, not waiting for irrigation completion? Who can consult, if arise?
Workshop participants were greatly interested in field certificates and individual field checklists. Is there opportunity of providing other concern farmers with these data? Who can consult and help in issues of water use and land treatment conduction? How organize soil conditions study for own fields?
Farmers were interested in methodology of irrigation water discharge design on demonstration plots, definition of dates and irrigation norms, amount and type of applied fertilizers, and vermin liquidation methods.
During discussion process project experts, oblast and rayon executors answered for farmers’ questions, exchanged with opinions and wishes between each other.
In conclusion A. Satybaldiyev noted that taking into account farmers active participation, their concern of measures and results obtained on demonstration plots of Osh oblast the workshop goal was achieved. In future it is planned to create consulting services to help farmers in agricultural production process organization.
WORKING MEETING OF «IWRM-FERGHANA» PROJECT LEADERSHIP
Working meeting of “IWRM-Ferghana” project leadership was held on 7 of November 2003 in IWMI Tashkent office, where J. Gely, project regional manager from SDC, V. Sokolov, project manager from SIC ICWC, and M. Ul Hassan, project manager from IWMI.
One question was presented in meeting agenda – activity review for recent weeks as well as the most significant project progress for recent several weeks:
Minister of Reclamation and Water Management of Tajikistan A.A. Nazyrov on agreement with khokim of Sogd oblast signed decree on creation of Gulyakandoz Canal Administration (CA), pilot canal of the “IWRM-Ferghana” project in Tajik part of Ferghana Valley.
CA Office will be established in Chkalovsk. It is expected that the project workers will complete rest measures in the nearest time.
The workshop was held to discuss and complete preliminary provisions of water canal committees as well as apply these provisions to each of three canals (Aravan-Akbura in Kyrgyzstan, Gulya-Kandoz in Tajikistan, and South-Ferghana in Uzbekistan).
In the first decade of November M.A. Pinkhasov (SIC ICWC) jointly with A.Sh. Jajloobayev and I. Petrakov (IWMI juridical consultant) will complete the draft report on mechanisms and tackling of conflict situations. Based on this report training module on tackling disputes will be prepared for three WUAs.
In the second decade of November training on formal and informal mechanisms of disputable issues solution for 4 pilot WUA (as well as for other 2 WUAs located in Aravan-Akbura canal zone).
Development of structure and data input for growing period 2003 into database of information control system (ICS) including three levels – canal, WUA, and private farm, have been finished. SIC staff has trained experts working in Oblvodkhoz/CA in Ferghana and Osh to use database. Following steps will be carrying out data analysis and structure adjustment, if necessary, to meet local needs.
Development of water consumption design model and water distribution monitoring for canal levels and WUA is in final phase.
Sh.Sh. Mukhamejanov (SIC ICWC) started water and land efficiency analysis. On 9 from 10 pilot plots water and land efficiency has been adjusted. On the plot located at South-Ferghana canal (where farmer followed project recommendations) efficiency worsened.
All water metering devices were delivered to pilot WUAs, and installation will be completed in non-growing period.
Project staff prepared water use schedules for winter (non-growing period) for each pilot plot.
IWMI and SIC ICWC developed capacity increase program for pilot WUAs. This program includes training modules on assessment of operation and priority by means of studies, water use planning, account and WUA budget preparation, disputable issues’ resolution, and management organization. The program will be implemented during non-growing period (November-March), when farmers and WUA are relatively free. Training courses will be conducted with using joint approaches.
Also on the meeting following current issues were considered:
- SIC ICWC plans to organize seminar in the end of November to exchange with its experience in IWRM implementation and next steps in development of this approach in the region.
- Summary Report for 2003 should include lessons and achievements for 2002-2003 years.
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