No. 33 (76) October 2004

WORKSHOP UNDER THE PROJECT “SETTLEMENT OF WATER DEFICIT AND DRAUGHTS IN CENTRAL ASIA CAUSED BY THE CLIMATE CHANGE”

A workshop under the Project “Settlement of water deficit and draughts in Central Asia caused by the Climate Change” took place in Tinchlik village, Akhunbabayev rayon, Ferghana oblast, 26 September 2004.

First Deputy Head of Ferghana Oblast O. Rustamov, Head of Akhunbabayev rayon K.Kuchkarov, Head of BFC Administration A. Yulbarsov, chairmen of collective farms, village councils, elders and others took part in the workshop.

The aim of the workshop was to discuss positive results of legume (green gram, haricot, soya) production in the project demonstration field and make recommendations for using these crops as double crops to get protein food and raise land fertility.

The project is implemented during two years within the territory of three republics, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The project contractors are SIC ICWC and McGill University (Canada). The project directors are Prof. V.A. Dukhovny and Prof. C. Madramotoo.

The workshop was opened by Head of Akhunbabayev rayon K.K. Kuchkarov. Project executor K. Umarov told about the results of green gram and haricot production in 2003-2004 in detail. He dwelled on chemical composition of the made products, especially green gram. Green gram contains up to 35% of protein, 17-25% of fat, over 20% of starch and other elements. 55-60 days are needed for green gram and haricot sprouts to get ripe, so it is especially advantageous to use these crops as double crops after gathering cereals. K. Umarov also reported on the efficiency of legume production, their ability to accumulate biological nitrogen in soil that was identified during the researches. When calculating, 400-500, and sometimes up to 800 nitrogen-carrying tubercles were found out on the roots of one green gram plant that is 26-28 grams of unripe tubercles per 1 running meter. On conversion to a hectare with a dense standing (row spacing is 0.6 m), 330,000-340,000 plants equal 1.5 ton of unripe tubercles. Thus, every year about 60-70 kg of pure nitrogen is accumulated in a hectare. This is comparable to 200-210 kg of ammonium nitrate. As to water saving, green gram yield can amount to from 0.8 to 1.2 t/ha even if minimum water (1,500-2,000 mЗ/ha) is used for irrigation in the vegetation period. K. Umarov attracted the attention of the audience to green gram sowing (beyond the research area), which was not irrigated at all after it had sprouted up, nevertheless the harvest amounted to no less than 0.4-0.5 t/ha there.

Later, K. Umarov told about agrotechnical measures carried out in the pilot field in the vegetation period when sowing green gram and haricot, and answered the questions of the participants.

Canadian executors M. Bourgault and H. Webber told about methods for studying legume production in the context of the region, irrigation carried out in three ways (wet, optimum and stressful), and impact of irrigation depth value on fruit element accumulation and ripening time of green gram, haricot and Canadian soybean pods as well аs on yield capacity of these crops.

Head of Akhunbabayev rayon K.K. Kuchkarov emphasized the significance and usefulness of legumes production in economy, their impact on land fertility improvement, and important role in food reserves replenishment for population. He recommended heads of farms, chairmen of village councils, and farmers to grow green gram and haricot in no less than 10-15 ha on each farm after grain harvesting beginning from 2005. The results of the present research show that these crops require no more than 1,500-2,500 m^З/ha of water, labor needed for growing these crops is not large as well, and the yield exceeds 1-1.5 million soums from a hectare at the current prices.

In conclusion, Head of Akunbabayev rayon K. Kuchkarov thanked all the participants of the workshop, and expressed his hope that the workshop was not last. It is necessary to continue contacts with foreign specialists in water resources and agriculture in the future. This communication is of a great benefit.

WORKSHOP UNDER THE “INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN FERGHANA VALLEY” PROJECT

A workshop under the IWRM-Ferghana Project was held in the ICWC Training Center on 4-6 October 2004. The aim of the workshop was to discuss the results of the project activities in 2002-2004 and lessons learnt, coordinate project activities up to its completion in April 2005, and make proposals for long-range development of activities aimed at the implementation of IWRM principles in the region.

More important progress made as a result of the project activities over 3 years:

In “Pilot canals” component

• creation of a IWRM concept;
• transition to hydrographic principle of pilot canal operation;
• implementation of public participation principles (creation of WCC and organization of their activities);
• improvement of water allocation plans and tools to revise them;
• improvement of water control and accounting along the main canal;
• rise in the level of stability, equitability and uniformity of water allocation along canal.

In “WUA” component

• creation of a IWRM principles concept at WUA level;
• creation of WUAs on hydrographic principle in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan where water organizations act as WUA co-founders;
• “Guidance for implementing integrated water resources management principles at WUA level”;
• making of plans for water use over outlets within WUA in view of water user requirements;
• organization of water accounting on WUA on-farm network (investigation of WUA canals and outlets; manufacturing, construction and assembling of water accounting facilities; attestation and certification), introduction of three-time recording in water user inlet points;
• organization and introduction of water allocation upon requests of water users;
• involvement of water users in WUA management and their participation in water allocation;
• development of mechanisms for settling water disputes.

In “Water and Land Productivity” component

• Characteristic drawbacks of agricultural production were identified on the basis of irrigation for pilot zone.
• Recommendations were made, and activity was carried out in irrigation management to raise water and land productivity.
• Over three years in demonstration plots the irrigation water productivity increased from 30% to 95%, yield capacity – from 4% to 54%.
• Activities were carried out in respect of sustainability of the results achieved in demonstration plots and dissemination of project experience among farmers located in immediate proximity.

In information system

• Key project partners were provided with computer communication means, integrated in a single project network.
• Design of IMS, including sections such as “Database”, “Modeling” and “GIS” was completed.
• The system was installed in pilot canal administrations and WUAs. Information system enables to automate many operations in making water use plan, water supply accounting and analysis.
• Local staff is being trained in skills of operation with IMS and its use for operational needs.

Directions of the further development of project activities for the implementation of IWRM principles:

• update pilot canals, and building WCC capacity (solving WCC financing issues);
• ensure public participation broadening (attracting authoritative persons such as village elders, women, clergymen to participate in WCC activities);
• cover the whole system of Khoja-Bakirgan creek (Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan) by the project;
• disseminate project experience to Yakkalik canal (Kyrgyzstan);
• complete the transition to hydrographic principle on SFC (Uzbekistan);
• consider the issues of water allocation in concurrence with he issues of land reclamation, ecology, drinking water supply;
• hydro module zoning of pilot canal irrigated command area.
• achieve state support for rehabilitation of on-farm hydro reclamation system in pilot WUAs “Akbarabad” and “Zarafshan” respectively in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and forming a material and technical basis for WUA.
• In further it is necessary to tackle the following issues:
  • disseminating experience in development of WUAs throughout Ferghana Valley;
  • land reclamation services rendered by specialized reclamation services of water organizations to WUAs, and by WUAs to water users;
  • stimulating water saving in WUAs;
  • founding special divisions for WUA support within the framework of BISA and state oblast-level water departments.
• organize monitoring of water allocation between water users in WUAs;
• enhance the responsibility of water organizations to WUAs for water supply upon contracts;
• actual water allocation should be based on strict correspondence to water user requests;
• define functional duties of WUAs and inter-farm specialized structures for collector-drainage network management;
• provide sustainable telephone communication;
• assist with implementing flexible legal regulations, developed in the IWRM-Ferghana Project;
• elucidate the results of the “IWRM-Ferghana” Project activities in mass media;
• organize activity for social mobilization in WUA “Zhapalak” to consolidate small farms;
• create an Extension Service in all aspects of water resources management and use (technical, agro-reclamation, economic, legal, marketing and so on);
• extend training activity and activities for social mobilization to strengthen IWRM principles at diverse levels with involvement of the mass media.

It is planned to hold a workshop in February 2005, at which a program and a scope of work for the next project stage are to be made.

You can find the full text at: www.cawater-info.net/news/10-2004/14_e.htm