Field work on the correction of hydromodule zoning in the Syr Darya River basin

A field trip was undertaken from 14 to 16 August 2025 to Andijan, Namangan, and Fergana provinces of the Republic of Uzbekistan as part of the project “Correction of hydromodule zoning of the Syr Darya River basin using remote sensing data and satellite mapping technologies for correction of crop water requirements and irrigation regimes for agricultural crops cultivated in the region”.

The main objective of this field trip was to carry out comprehensive ground- and RS-based research to develop a database on water availability and use, irrigated land areas and their expandability, soil conditions, cropping patterns, as well as to update the data on water tables for hydromodule zoning and the correction of crop irrigation depths and dates.

As part of the trip, field studies were conducted within the selected pilot sites in each hydromodule zone across the three provinces of the Fergana Valley. These sites were represented by agricultural fields under both traditional irrigation methods (furrow irrigation) and water-saving technologies (drip and sprinkler irrigation). The team conducted phenological observations, recorded water delivery to the fields, gathered data on cotton irrigation regime, and measured soil salinity.

In addition, the team worked jointly with GIS specialists from the Land Reclamation Field offices of Andijan, Namangan, and Fergana provinces. The methodology for collecting data on groundwater level and salinity and techniques of their processing were reviewed and discussed. As a result of consultations, the project team has got valuable data and provided key recommendations for the improvement of activities of GIS divisions at the Land Reclamation Field offices in the three provinces.

For reference: This project is implemented under an agreement between the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC), with financial support from the French Development Agency (AFD). The initiative is part of 2020–2030 ASBP-4, approved by the IFAS Board’s Decision of June 29, 2021, Dushanbe.