INFORMATION ABOUT APPOINTING DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, WATER RESOURCES AND PROCESSING INDUSTRY OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
According to the order by Prime Minister K.B. Bakiyev of the Kyrgyz Republic, was appointed next Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic.
On 23 June 2005, an official presentation of next Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic Temirbek Asanaliyevich Kulov took place at the Ministry.
Acting Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic A.A. Anarbayev, Manager of Agro-Industry and Natural Resources Use Division at the Administration of the Kyrgyz President A.J. Akimaliyev, and Central Apparatus of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry (MAWRPI) of the Kyrgyz Republic took part in this event.
Temirbek Asanaliyevich Kulov was born in 1949 in Kashka-Suu village, Sokuluk district, Chui province.
In 1971, he graduated from the Samarkand Cooperative Institute, specializing in trade economics, and is a government service adviser of the 2nd class.
Before appointing Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, he worked as Manager of Department for Personnel and Public Relations, Chief of Personnel and Official Language Sector at the Ministry of Economic Development, Industry and Trade of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Source: www.mawrpi.kg
INTRODUCING MCGILL'S NEW DEAN OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Prof. Chandra Madramootoo has been appointed Associate Vice-Principal and Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the McGill University, Canada. He begins his five-year term on August 15, 2005.
"Professor Madramootoo is an internationally recognized expert who possesses in-depth knowledge of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and has demonstrated a passion for Macdonald Campus, its people and its programs," said Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University. "He is a multidisciplinary thinker who has managed a wide portfolio of projects that have helped our understanding of the world's most precious resource: water."
Professor Madramootoo was responsible for the creation of the Brace Centre for Water Resources Management, and has played a pivotal role in building the Centre's extensive research, teaching and technology transfer programs, as well as its research infrastructure. He has served as Project Leader on many large scale water and environmental research projects in Quebec, Central Asia, and the Caribbean.
In particular, in Central Asia Professor Madramootoo took part in creating ICWC Training Center.
Professor Madramootoo served as a Vice-President of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) from 2000-2003. Prior to this, he served the ICID in numerous capacities including as Chairman of the Working Group on Environmental Impacts of Irrigation, Drainage and Flood Control projects. He provides advice to many institutions, including the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, CIDA, FAO, International Program for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID), and the World Bank. His research and teaching in water resources management has led to extensive international involvement with governments and institutions in the Caribbean, Central Asia, Egypt, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.
ICWC TRAINING CENTER’S SEMINAR ON THE “PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT”
From 31 May to 3 June 2005 the ICWC Training Center held a seminar on the “Public Participation in Sustainable Water Resources Management”. The seminar was organized with the assistance of the USAID Regional Training Program for Central Asia (START/AED). The seminar program consisted of two parts: presentations based on practical works, and theoretical part, which was moderated by specialists from NGO ‘Yoshlik’ and NGO ‘Nikhol’.
The goals and objectives of the seminar were:
- to train water specialists in methods and practices for working with the public;
- train water specialists in methods for social analysis;
- discuss basic reasons for passive participation of members of Water Users Associations (WUAs) in activities of the organization.
Along with representatives from water organizations in Central Asian states, representatives from non-governmental sector, donor organizations and projects for developing the water sector in Central Asia took part in the seminar.
At the opening of the seminar, Director of SIC ICWC Prof. V.A. Dukhovny and Manager of Environment Division at the USAID Office in Tashkent A.G. Kalashnikov spoke. The speakers noted that the sustainability of processes and activities depends on level of public participation in these processes. During agricultural reforms in water sector in Central Asian states, a gap had formed in management hierarchy at water user level. Organization of WUAs in the provinces is caused not only by the need for removing this gap, but also by solving financial issues and agricultural crop diversification. WUA means replacing the old top-down management system with bottom-up management system.
Sustainable water resources management is the most important factor of economic prosperity in Central Asian Republics and environmental safety. Formerly, water resources management was only based on economic, environmental and technical factors. A social factor has recently become important in forming water resources management policy. Social impact of water reforms is one of the main factors in reducing poverty in rural areas. Reforms conducted in rural areas will be effective and sustainable, if the public participates in all processes, beginning from planning to fulfilling at local level tasks related to these reforms. The international practice shows that the public participation in planning the construction of irrigation systems gives them sense of property. It provides certain incentives to investment by users in further maintenance of these facilities.
The public participation is proposed not only in planning and implementing projects for water and agricultural sector rehabilitation, but also in developing bills concerning water use and environmental protection. There is a legal ground for population to take part in such processes, but the population still passively participates in this respect. It is necessary to carry out regular activities aimed at raising public awareness on planned legislative acts.
As noted during discussions, everybody has a right to natural resources use in legally prescribed manner.
As a rule, allocation and use of shared resources cause conflict of interests among users. In this case, there is a few ways to resolve conflicts, depending on geographic location of conflicting parties and their type. in view of the current changes, poor economic condition of water users and inability of water organizations to solve many issues related to land reclamation, there is a strong possibility of conflicts in the water sector. There is a risk of water disputes between WUA members, between WUAs and between WUAs and water organizations. Several versions to address these problems exist.
Disputes and conflicts between WUA members and WUAs can be considered at Arbitration Board of WUAs, Arbitration Board of Canal Water Committees, courts of elders (organized at the district and provincial administrations) and Regulating Body of WUAs at the ministries of agriculture and water resources (now it functions at the MAWRPI of the Kyrgyz Republic).
The Arbitration Board of WUA can consider all issues related to activities of WUA and its members, as well as disputes with WUA members that have contractual relations with WUAs. Issues concerning relations between WUA and water organizations can be considered at the Arbitration Board of Water Committee, involving representatives of disputing parties and representative from Basin water authority.
Local institutes such as Council of Elders play an important role in preventing conflicts between water users. As a rule, they evaluate incidents, formulate public opinion.
Considering by them disputes between WUA members and WUAs, or between WUAs and water organizations, or between water users could relieve social stress between them and stop further dispute.
Proposed ways to consider disputes and conflicts without reference to court have an advantage of quick consideration and solution, and do not carry a burden of significant finance charges as when referring to court.
On the stipulation that one of the conflicting parties does not agree with the decision of the Arbitration Board in WUA or Canal Water Committee concerning recovery of damages, the case can be considered in court of common jurisdiction in accordance with the established procedure.
Access to resources and information is the basic criteria for involving population in activities carried out in water sector.
To prevent disputes between water users, between watyer users and WUAs, between WUAs and water organizations, it is necessary:
- to equip water outlet points of water users with water accounting facilities;
- make up a well grounded water use plan for the whole WUA and each WUA member-farm before the beginning of irrigation;
- intensify state and public control over water use;
- create conditions of transparency and awareness of activities of state water organizations and water user associations;
- improve the technical condition of irrigation and collector-drainage systems of different levels;
- periodically organize trainings with personnel of WUAs and farmers on water use, water, land and civil laws, integrated water resources management with involving water users in management process.
The participants listened with a keen interest to lecture on gender issues in rural areas. They stated an opinion that in Kazakhstan the issues of women’s participation in water sector and access to resources are at more favorable level that makes it possible to easily carry out activities or deal with state services. As noted by the participants, improvement of access to financial and other resources for women will help to mitigate the unemployment. Education of women employed in agriculture plays an important role in improving water and land productivity and, finally, in improving their living condition. A poll on gender issues was carried out among the participants.
In conclusion, the participants expressed satisfaction with the contents of the presented materials and training. They thanked the organizers of the seminar and stated the need for continuing such seminars at the local level with scientific support of moderators.
|