Uzbekistan Sets 2030 Goals for Water-Saving Irrigation

Uzbekistan has outlined plans to improve water efficiency and upgrade irrigation systems by 2030 under the draft Uzbekistan-2030 strategy, which sets target indicators for the rational use of water resources in agriculture.

According to the draft strategy, key priorities include modernizing irrigation infrastructure, expanding land reclamation efforts, and introducing public-private partnership mechanisms in the water management sector, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

Improving the sustainability of agricultural water supply and reducing water losses are identified as central objectives. To achieve these goals, the strategy proposes the phased concreting of main and inter-farm canals, measures to improve the reclamation condition of irrigated lands, efforts to reduce areas affected by high groundwater levels, and greater involvement of the private sector in managing the industry.

The project’s main target indicators include:

• increasing the length of main and inter-farm canals with concrete lining to 13,100 kilometers, or 46 percent, out of a total length of 18,700 kilometers, 66 percent of which currently have earthen beds;
• reducing saline areas on irrigated lands to 1.7 million hectares through the construction and reconstruction of reclamation facilities;
• cutting areas with problematic groundwater levels to 773,400 hectares.

In addition, the draft identifies the development of irrigation systems and water-saving technologies as a separate priority, alongside greater private sector involvement in management and the wide application of public-private partnership mechanisms. In particular, it provides for:

• increasing the number of water management facilities transferred to public-private partnership management to 2,012;
• expanding the capacity of the Tuyamuyun Reservoir by an additional 1 billion cubic meters, which would improve water supply across 1.2 million hectares and create a reserve of drinking water.

According to the draft, the implementation of these measures is expected to reduce water losses, improve land reclamation conditions, ensure stable agricultural yields, and support the systematic modernization of water supply infrastructure.