Global Water PartnershipCentral Asia and Caucasus

EXPERIENCES WITH WATER MANAGEMENT FOR FOOD PRODUCTION

IN CENTRAL ASIA

Vadim Sokolov

SIC ICWC/GWP CACENA

NOWNET Session “Addressing MDGs through exchange of knowledge and technology”Stockholm, 12 August 2007

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In arid climate of Central Asia water management is an important element of

irrigated crop production

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Indicators for MDGs

• Relative importance of agriculture• Irrigated land as percentage of cultivated area• Relative importance of agriculture water withdrawal in water balance• Extent of land salinized by irrigation• Dietary Energy supply

Let us look what they are for Central Asia……

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The Basic Indicators of Water and Land Resources Development in the Aral Sea Basin

Forecast (2020)

31

109

1935

9300

86.8

105

0.16

9330

54

Optimistic

10.7

35.4

2335

11820

96.0

107

0.18

8120

45.8

2006

209.022.018.38.95.8Bln.US$Contribution of agricultural production

7727.574.048.132.416.1Bln.US$GNP

167025303460450047304270m3/capitaSpecific diversion per capita

104001185014000154301686012450m3/haSpecific diversion per hectare

96.794.6610610786.8456.15km3/yearIncluding for irrigation

11710511612194.5660.61km3/yearTotal water diversion

0.120.190.230.260.270.31hectareIrrigated area per capita

9300789676006920515045101 000 haIrrigated area(netto)

7041.833.626.820.314.6MillionPopulation

Pessimistic20001990198019701960UnitIndicator

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Actual problems - Destabilizing Factors for Water Management

i Water for food security :Irrigated agriculture provides almost 90% of crop production; 88 % of total water resources used for irrigation

i Conflicts around Water:- between countries for shares and schedule;- between zones (upper –down watershed);- between sectors of economy (irrigation-hydro power);- between human needs and nature

i Water and environment:- Disaster of the Aral Sea and deltas;- Climate change; - Processes of desertification; - Soil salinity and erosion on the irrigated areas;- Decrease of biodiversity

i Water quality and human health:- Accelerated water pollution in rivers; - groundwater degradation; - growth of diseases and mortality in downstream zones

i Water for socio-economic development:- Population growth;- Irrigation complex creates 30 % of GDP and employs 60% of population;- Huge pumping systems;- Lack of funds fro proper irrigation infrastructure maintenance and development.

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Three possible ways at the National level for food security

• Increase of agricultural production via improvement of water and land productivity

• Increase of food import and establishment of the regional food market (regional food trade accounting national specializations)

• Change of life style (demand management, control of population growth, dietary changes, etc)

The only first one related mostly to water management!

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The General Challenges ahead

• How to increase water conveyance efficiency – taking into account huge power consumption by pumping systems for irrigation and big unproductive conveyance losses.

• Modernization and authomation of the main conveyance structures – computer control of water distribution and applications – way to “Hydro-Solidarity”.

• Irrigation scheduling - timing of applied water – way to improve application efficiency.

• Combination of improved irrigation practices with other advanced practices (cultivation, chemigation, nutrient and pest management, etc) – way to enhance crop production.

• Management of return waters – way to improve collection and disposal of polluted water and where it is possible to re-use them for salt-tolerant crops.

• Soil salinity control by proper drainage (control of groundwater level) and leaching of irrigated lands.

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The Key Issues Required More Attention

• Water Conservation and Reallocation – through improved management of irrigation supplies to meeting increased water needs for future agriculture.

• Productivity – use water more effective – maximum production per minimum water. Improved water management - way to reduce expenditures for energy, chemicals and labor inputs, while enhancing revenues through higher crop yields and improved crop quality.

From Actual Productivity to Potential Productivity!(some examples from the IWRM-Fergana Project)

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The way for the best practices dissemination…

…is creation of the extension service on the base of existed demonstration plots. At the initial stage, it is necessary to be oriented to productivity growth acceptable for different particular farmers. During this stage the costs of extension service should be covered with governmental support. State support is needed both for extension services providers and for farmers. In the prospective horizons the share of farmers will increase accordingly to their production capability and economic growth.

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Basic factors of irrigation efficiency improvement

Unstable water availability in conveyance systemImproperly selected parameters of irrigation systems and water application technology High rates of water application due to big losses from irrigated fields for infiltration and escapes Improper other practices affecting irrigation - land cultivation dates and its bad quality

performance, for example.

00,20,40,60,8

1

3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

April May May June June July July August AugustIrrigation datesW

ater

App

licat

ion,

L/S

per

Ha

As UsualProposed

Farm “Turdialy”

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Comparative Assessment of Irrigation Efficiency and Water Saving in the Result of

Recommended Measures

1780,710,64116861164518113926155462366030Sandyk

14580,410,503214043115972712001894243935120Nursultan

18150,860,839292114305164625532904020Turdialy

33480,860,4214647583903000045236718Nozima

19190,780,59105752014831389521153666587342Sayod

%%%m3/ha%m3/ha%m3/ha%m3/ham3/ha

2004200320042002200420022004200220042002

Water SavingEfficiency =

(IRfact - Esc – F)IRfact

Losses for Infiltration (F)Losses for Escapes (Esc)Irrigation Rate(Gross = IRfact)Pilot Farm

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Comparative Crop Production Indicators as Intervention of Consultancy

3801811094022021286144102674,304,302,44Nursultan

3861361214221701436544223354,584,433,00Toloykon

Wheat

200420032002200420032002200420032002200420032002

Net Profit (USD/hа)

Gross Profit (USD/ha)

Gross Product (USD/ha)

Crop Yield(ton/ha)Name of Pilot

Farm

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Some examples from the IWRM-Fergana Project

From Measurement of Groundwater Table to Identity the Rate of Irrigation

To Identify Date of Irrigation Knowing Sum of Evaporation

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Some examples from the IWRM-Fergana Project

Water Registration – Way to Water Saving

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Some examples from the IWRM-Fergana Project

Crop sowing with film cover over ridges Vineyards irrigation from subsurface irrigation network,

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Some examples from the IWRM-Fergana Project

Irrigation with successive “wet” and “dry”furrows

Rice irrigation

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Some examples from the IWRM-Fergana Project

Water diversion from drainage collector for re-use

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Causes for Conveyance Losses and Mitigation Measures

• Introduction of water rotation • Use of all types of water resources

Technical• Lack of the proper water distribution procedures

• Improving the water monitoring system• Introduction of the SCADA • Establishing the management information system

Technical• Lack of water keeping records

• Applying of penalty provisions• Proper governance

Organizational, Economic

• Water over-diversion against schedule

• Regulations for water monitoring and records• Introduction of the GIS and water use plans

Technical• Lack of water distribution discipline

• Developing and putting operational rules into practice

• Drafting the plan and its adjustments

Technical• Lack of the system of water resources planning, distribution and dispatching

Irrigation system

Improving the water management systemTechnical• Uncontrolled water distribution

Runoff control, use of drainage waterTechnical• Unstable flow modes in rivers

Monitoring and evaluation of flow rates and water losses

Technical• Underestimate of water losses at upstream river sections

Distribution accuracy due to applying SCADA Technical

Agreements and negotiationsLegal• Excessive water diversion at upstream intakes;

Establishing a proper governance system or developing the regulations

Institutional• Breach of the water supply schedule;

Water Law, Agreements, NegotiationsLegal• Political tensions;

Instability of head intake and water disposal due to :

Basin

Brief descriptionType

Mitigation measuresThe Problem existedLevel of Hierarchy

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Reforming Water Management - institutional arrangements and public participation

Delegation of responsibility

End User ¥ Farmer

Uses

Users ¥ FarmersPublic Committee

WUA Administration

• Districts• WUAsUnion of Water

UsersSystem Organization

• Local Administrations• Sectors

Sub-Basin Committee

Sub-Basin ¥ ProvinceOrganization

• Parliament• Finance•Sectors ¥ provinces

National Water Council

National Water Authority

• Government• Sectors• Zones A

c c o u n t a b I l I t y

Basin CouncilBasin Organization

Water M

anagement Process

TBBasin

National

Sub-Basin

Irrigation System

Water Users Association

End User / Farmer

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Meeting of Water Users Union of the South Fergana Canal

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Instruments for Sectors Integration

• Integrated planning of water use

• Co-ordination of the driving forces for economic growth in sectors

• Data exchange

• Participation in material and financial inputs that are of mutual interests.

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Legislative and Economic Tools• Water rights and their protection by the Government

• Contractual relationship between water users and water agencies, and also between water

agencies operating at different hierarchical levels

• The law on a liability for infringing water rights and contractual relationships

• Payment for water supply and other servicing of water users

• Penalties for water pollution

• Fee for water as resource (still discussible)

• Governmental control for rights and duties of water management organizations and water users,

as well as the state liability regarding support to both sides

• Providing incentive and preferential terms both for water users and water management

organizations under rational water use

• Fines for surplus water withdrawal from the water supply system

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Managerial Tools

• Keeping records of water on the way from the basin to the end user, strict water demand rationing

• Drafting the coordinated plans of water allocation and use at all hierarchical levels of water management that include control of organizational water losses

• Reporting that shall provide not only annual and quarterly reports but also an operational reports containing specified criteria and indicators for timely adjustment of water supply

• Improving the dispatcher control to ensure equitable and sustainable water supply upholding the priorities of eco-systems and municipal and industrial water users as well as the observance of limits related to water infrastructure safety

• Adjustment of water use plans based on tailor-made computer models in case of changes in hydrologic, climatic, economic, and other conditions.

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Thank you for attention !!!

Additional information:www.gwpcacena.orgvadim@icwc-aral.uz