Climate change: Uzbekistan revamps its irrigation systems

Resource-rich Uzbekistan is the third-largest country in Central Asia. The economy is growing steadily, but the growth rate in rural areas is lagging behind the national average. The Fergana Valley in the east is one of the most densely populated regions in the country. It is also one of the most agriculturally developed, with high yields per hectare.

Given the anticipation of more pronounced climate variability and increased competition, Uzbekistan aims to modernize its irrigation systems. Commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and Uzbek consultancy InfoCapital Group, Tractebel began this 100,000-hectare project in December 2020. Our experts are responsible for monitoring and evaluating the irrigation development project in the Fergana Valley, financed by the World Bank. The project is scheduled for completion in 2023.

Optimisation of technologies and processes

Within the framework of the mandate, our irrigation experts are focusing on four specific measures: 

1. Use of more efficient technologies to reduce evapotranspiration, thereby improving net water availability.
2. Creation of opportunities to enable excess winter river flow to be used for irrigation in the summer months through investments in improved storage and managed aquifer recharge.
3. Replacement of aging pumps by modern, energy-efficient systems to reduce costs over the long term.
4. Improvement in the quality of service delivery by public irrigation service providers through institutional reforms, the establishment of modern asset management systems and service-based performance management.

Investments in the irrigation infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Image: InfoCapital Group

Uzbekistan is modernizing its irrigation systems in the Fergana Valley with Tractebel’s expertise.