Corporate Domain Cooperation with Eastern Europe
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Department
Central Asia Project Briefing
MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION
OF WATER FOR GREATER STABILITY –
A PIONEERING SDC PROJECT
Half the size of Switzerland and surrounded by
two high mountain chains, Fergana Valley is an
important breadbasket of Central Asia. Most
of the fertile land here belongs to Uzbekistan,
with the rest of the valley being shared by Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. All three of these countries emerged after the collapse of the former
Soviet Union. An SDC-funded project seeks to
ensure the efficient, fair and transparent distribution of poorly managed water resources, which
has become a crucial factor for stability in the
region.
In poverty-stricken Central Asia, Fergana Valley is
a veritable oasis. Half the size of Switzerland, this
vast plain is home to just under 10 million people.
The densely populated area is a major breadbasket
of Central Asia, which makes water a particularly
valuable resource. Water mainly comes from the
Syr Darya River and its tributaries. In Soviet times,
an enormous centrally managed water canal network was built across the plain, distributing water
from the high mountain peaks to cotton monoculture
fields in the valley below.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, three states
emerged: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Most of the fertile land in the plain belongs to
Uzbekistan but the water comes from the mountainous terrain of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, whose
economies are heavily reliant on hydroelectric
power. When the snow melts in the early summer months, water refills large dams. However, it
is exactly at this time that Uzbek farmers need to
irrigate their crops. With three different countries
vying for water resources and, more importantly,
each country setting its own national priorities for
this resource, tensions soon flared.
To make matters worse, a growing population and
new agricultural industries began to place an additional burden on already limited water resources.
It soon became clear that the governmental and
A group of farmers near the village of Osh in Kyrgyzstan look
for more equitable ways to distribute water.
intergovernmental agencies created by these newly
independent states would not be strong enough to
keep the water distribution network from being split
up among the three countries. The consequence:
water supply became unreliable, unfair and insufficient. Farmers who found themselves at the lower
part of the valley barely received any water from
the water canal network while farmers in the upper
part of the valley had more water than they knew
what to do with. Although there was enough water
for everyone in Fergana Valley, the problem was
how to distribute it more efficiently. A more targeted
approach to water management was also needed
to capture drainage water from irrigated fields to
avoid unnecessary loss of water.
The solution to the problem was clear: an entirely
November 2007
1
Central Asia Briefing | Equitable water distribution for greater stability
KAZAKHSTAN
UZBEKISTAN
Syr Darya
n
Ferga
KYRGYZSTAN
lley
a Va
Fergana Valley is a fertile plain that spreads
across Uzbek territory. This valley is surrounded by mountain chains that belong
to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Some of
the mountain peaks are as high as 5,000
metres.
TAJIKISTAN
new approach was required. The timely delivery
of water could no longer depend on national borders and government agencies. Instead, water had
to be distributed in a transparent, fair and efficient
manner. The needs of all water users – including
thousands of farmers – also had to be taken into
account.
In 2001, the SDC launched and funded a new
project entitled “Integrated Water Resource Management in Fergana Valley” to restructure and
improve water management. The project immediately focussed on three pilot canals in the three
countries as well as two rivers that flowed across
national borders. An entirely new concept was
introduced: instead of a top-down approach, a
more horizontal one was adopted to identify and
reconcile the various interests of all stakeholders –
including smallholder farmers. Water user groups
were created and these water user groups joined
together to form larger water user associations. At
the top of this organisational structure, canal water
committees were created and made responsible
for overall distribution of water. These canal water
committees were comprised of members representing the interests of each of the stakeholders. As a
result, water began flowing both to people and
crops and tensions eased.
sluice gates automatically regulate the irrigation
system. Drainage water is automatically channelled back to control centres. With such mechanisms and large sluice gates, major fluctuations in
water level can be reduced by drawing water from
dams. At smaller distribution stations, it is possible
to deliver precise quantities of water in a reliable
fashion. Since automated sluice gates are connected to one another, water flows can be monitored
centrally. This information is then made available
to all three countries, which increases transparency. The system also ensures that water is distributed
to countries and water users in a more equitable
fashion.
These two projects have had a major impact in the
region. At the local level, water user associations
negotiate water supply agreements with canal water
committees. Once the water is delivered, water user
associations are responsible for distributing it to their
Continued on page 4
With the introduction of set water delivery schedules, all water users now know exactly when and
how much water they will receive. Reliable and
regular delivery of water is a prerequisite for an
efficient fee-based water supply system. Since farmers now have to pay for water, they try to reduce
their consumption and use water more efficiently.
This reduces costs and increases income for farmers. As a result, greater emphasis is being placed
on water conservation. Canals are being laid with
cement to reduce water loss; farmers attend seminars to learn how to increase crop output by up to
30% with less water.
This project is closely linked to another SDC-funded project called the “Canal Automation Project”,
which seeks to automate the canal water monitoring and distribution process. Computer-controlled
Members of a water user group in Fergana Valley attend a
water conservation seminar.
November 2008
2
Central Asia Briefing | Equitable water distribution for greater stability
«It is easier to accept a decision, when you can take part»
Janibek Kamilov
Director of the Japalak Water Users Assosiation, he is 56 years old and lives in the city
of Osh, Fergana-Valley (Kyrgyzstan).
«Before reforms started after independence we did
not own land, we – workers of collective farms –
were told what to plant. We received all water
free-of-charge, state organisations distributed water
among the major users – the big kholchoses. After
independence we became private farmers, the
collective farms disappeared and a lot of much
smaller, private farms evolved. The organisation of
the state changed, too. Suddenly there were many
parties and groups with different and conflicting
interests. The newly established water management organisations were not able to deal with this
situation. There were conflicts, because we never
knew how much water we would get and when.
When we joined the project, we had doubts – the
approach was really very much different from everything we knew. It was no longer a top-down-command but we water users were asked, what we
needed. That was not easy at the beginning, but
we have learned how to reveal problems and how
to find solutions together. We created a Water User
Group, this is an informal organisation of farmers.
Our group is member of the bigger Water User
Association, where I am the director. I represent our
Association in the overall Canal Water Committee
of the Arawan-Akbura Canal that organizes activities to operate and maintain the network. By installing water-measuring devices we can increase transparency and efficiency. The water-distribution is still
difficult, but it is easier to accept a decision, when
you can take part in taking it. Our association is
taken as a model by others, that makes me proud!»
PROJECT SUMMARY
The densely populated, fertile Fergana Valley is an important breadbasket of Central Asia. Ten million
people live in an area that is only half the size of Switzerland. A quickly growing population, new
industries and increasing demand for hydroelectric power were using up water that was also needed
for agriculture. The problem was not a lack of water in Fergana Valley but rather poor distribution. The
large collective farms that used to be centrally managed in Soviet times were no longer suited to the
needs of the three countries in the region. A modern water supply network was needed to ensure transparent, fair and efficient delivery of water to all users. The “Integrated Water Resource Management in
Fergana Valley” project, which involves all stakeholders, has fundamentally changed the way water is
managed. Water is now being used more efficiently and productively. A new organisational structure
comprised of water user groups, water user associations and canal water committees was also established. Finally, mechanisms were created to ensure the transparent distribution of water among the three
countries.
Duration: 2001 – 2010 (Phases 1–4)
Project partners:
Interstate Commission for Water Coordination as
well as the ministries responsible for agriculture
and water resources in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan
Implementing organisation:
Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate
Commission for Water Coordination,
International Water Management Institute
Total budget:
CHF 11.3 million
November 2008
3
Central Asia Briefing | Equitable water distribution for greater stability
Most of the sluice gates in Fergana Valley
are still manually opened and closed, such
as this one near the town of Osh.
member water user groups. This leads to greater
local control and responsibility. Water resources are
distributed more equitably and reliably, which has
eased tensions and increased agricultural output. At
the local, regional and national levels, policymakers
have been made more aware of the water issue. In
addition, project methods and expertise have been
introduced in national water policies, which has led
to an overall improvement of the situation.
MORE INFORMATION
IWRM Project Webseite
http://iwrm.icwc-aral.uz
Information portal on water in Central Asia
www.cawater-info.net/index_e.htm
International Water Management Institute
http://centralasia.iwmi.org
Swiss Water Strategy for Central Asia 02 – 06
http://www.deza.admin.ch/ressources/resource_
en_24108.pdf
Swiss Cooperation in Central Asia (en)
www.swisscoop.tj
November 2008
4
THE SDC
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
(SDC) is part of the Federal
Department of Foreign
Affairs (FDFA). The SDC is
responsible for overall coordination of development cooperation activities with other
federal offices as well as for
delivery of humanitarian aid.
The SDC has around 620
employees working in
Switzerland and abroad.
It has an annual budget of
CHF 1.43 billion (2008).
In addition to running its own
programmes, the SDC provides funding to international
organisations as well as
to Swiss and international
charities involved in the
following activities:
- Bilateral and multilateral
development cooperation
- Humanitarian aid
- Cooperation with Eastern
Europe and the CIS
www.deza.ch
DID YOU KNOW THAT...
... in many regions of the world, water is a source of conflict?
Israel
Syria
Jordan
Palestine
Jordan/Yarmuk
USA
Mexiko
Rio Grande
Tajikistan
Kyrgyzstan
Uzbekistan
Syr Darya
Amu Darya
Turkey
Syria
Iraq
Euphrates
India
Tigris
Pakistan
Egypt
Punjab
Sudan
Ethiopia
Nile
States
involved
u
River systemu
Source: Zahlenbilder
Brazil
Paraguay
Argentina
Paraná
Botswana
Namibia
Angola
Kuito
Nepal
India
Bangladesh
Ganges
Brahmaputra
MASTHEAD
China
Laos
Vietnam
Thailand
Mekong
Swiss Agency for Development
and Cooperation (SDC)
Commonwealth of Independent
States Department
Freiburgstrasse 130
CH–3003 Berne
Concept/editing:
Alexandra Stark, Zurich
www.alexandrastark.ch
Assistants: Konstantin Mosin,
Marat Ibragimov, Christoph
Morger, Intercooperation
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Mozambique
Layout:
formerei gmbh, Zurich
www.formerei.ch
Zambesi
Photos:
K. Mosin, O. Anarbekov,
I. Tukhvatullin
This publication can also be found
at: www.deza.ch