Rehabilitation of Irrigation and Drainage Networks in Djizzakh and Syrdarya regions.
Introduction
Agricultural production in the Djizzak and Syrdarya regions consists mainly of cotton and cereals, which rely on surface irrigation. However, due to lack of operation and maintenance, the drainage system has become inefficient and inadequate resulting in increasing water logging and salinity overtime.
The project was therefore urgently needed to mitigate the adverse effects of old irrigation and drainage infrastructure on the ecological and socio-economic conditions. The project objectives are to increase the productivity of cotton, grain, fruit-and-vegetable crops, and enhance the socio-economic development level in the region.
Objectives
The project development objective was highly relevant to Uzbekistan’s country strategies.
Uzbekistan's Welfare Improvement Strategy (WIS) priority areas included poverty reduction and improvement of the population's living standards, environmental protection, and provision of irrigation and drainage services. Specifically, the WIS objectives included "improving the irrigation system and increasing the efficiency of water resource management, including investment in land improvement." In addition, "development of an integrated, sustainable water management system for supply of irrigation water."
The project objective was very much aligned with many strategic plans of the Government of Uzbekistan (GoU): State Program on the Amelioration improvement of irrigated lands (2008-2012), and State Programs of Action and State Monitoring for Environmental protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan (2008-2012) and 2011-2015).
Positive Impact
As the farmers rely on agriculture production for a living, increased agricultural productivity led to rasing their incomes, and consequently their standard of living. Overall, 1,205 farmers in Syrdarya Region and 1,960 farmers in Jizzkah. The region benefitted from the project and resulted in the improved living conditions of approximately 25,000 people.
- Increased irrigation water for crop production resulting in land reclamation. Approx 100,000 ha of agricultural land was available for crop production.
- Significant employment growth among men, woman and youth. Intermediate cash crops production like beans, vegetables and melons contributed to increasing the net income for farm households by 10 - 12%.
- Average cotton yields in Syrdarya and Djizzakh regions increased by 30%, in comparison with pre - project yields. Similarly, wheat yield in Syrdarya region was 4.6 t/ha and witnessed a dramatic increase of 90%.
- In Djizzakh region, cotton yield increased by 31%. A significant improvement.
- Gross production of fruits and berries increased by 85% in Syrdarya Region, 58 % in Djizzakh region.
- Part of target crops are mainly demanded in the internal market, which contributed to the net incremental export from both regions to the rest of the country.