Kyrgyzstan Partners with World Bank to Modernize its Irrigation Infrastructure

Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic - Director of the Water Resources Service Almazbek Sokeev met with the head of the World Bank representative office in Kyrgyzstan Hugh Riddell.

The main problems in the irrigation sector are water losses due to outdated infrastructure, low water charges, as well as low wages for employees of water management departments, the press service of the Agriculture Ministry said, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kyrgyz media.

The ministry plans to continue digitalization in the sector, promote methods of rational use of water (water-saving irrigation systems (drip and sprinkler)), transfer the operation and maintenance of on-farm canals to district water management departments, take measures to strengthen the capacity of the district water management departments (increase in wages, provide machinery and equipment, improve working conditions, such as repair of office premises, provide furniture and equipment).

The sides discussed cooperation and, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the provision of support from the World Bank for a ten-year program to modernize the irrigation infrastructure of the Kyrgyz Republic.