The Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan has presented the results of its work over 11 months in the field of irrigation and providing the population with clean water.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, during the reporting period, 5.6 billion cubic meters of water were used in the country. Irrigation water was supplied to 404 legal entities and more than 77,000 farmers, irrigating over 2.8 million hectares of land.
Key achievements:
- 10 reservoirs have been put into operation, with dozens more under construction and design;
- More than 550 kilometers of canals have been repaired and cleaned, as well as hundreds of hydraulic structures and pumping stations;
- 729 hectares of new land have been developed, and water supply has been improved on more than 22,000 hectares of irrigated land.
The priority has been the implementation of water-saving technologies: drip and sprinkler irrigation have covered 17,700 hectares, particularly actively in the Chui region. The Issyk-Kul region has been chosen as a pilot area for the development of drip irrigation, which should help conserve the lake's water resources.
The results of the introduction of new tariffs have also shown their effectiveness: revenues from water use have increased 2.5 times, amounting to 263 million soms. All collected funds are directed back to the development of irrigation infrastructure.
The Ministry of Agriculture notes that despite the difficult climatic conditions this year, there have been no mass complaints from farmers during the irrigation season.
As for providing the population with drinking water:
- 796 villages have gained access to clean water;
- Construction and preparatory work is underway in more than 600 villages.
The sector is actively moving towards digitalization: water accounting systems are being implemented, government services are being automated, online payment options are being created, and digital maps of irrigation systems are being developed.
