In the last 30-40 years, the world, particularly, Kyrgyzstan, has faced the increase in temperature. It leads to increased evaporation, and hence to soil drought. The problem of water regulation at distant pastures and farming lands can be solved by artificial glaciers.
Kumushai Abdykalykova, resident of the village of Olon-Bulak in Dzhalal-Abad region, just like the rest of residents of this small village in the south of Kyrgyzstan, have often suffered from the shortage of water for garden and field irrigation.
“We live in the south of the country. Due to climatic conditions, we have always lacked water,” she said.
According to her, conflicts have often emerged because of the water shortage both among villagers, and among neighbouring villages. The situation has lasted for years. Now they have enough water. The reason is the artificial glacier that was built not far from their village.
It was created in 2022 in the remote pasture Kara-Dobo in the territory of aiyl aimak Kashka-Suu, Aksy district of Dzhalal-Abad region. It was the first artificial glacier in Kyrgyzstan.
Rural people undertook the construction themselves, while the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) provided technical and UN’s Peacebuilding Fund provided financial support. According to Shekerbek Kamchybek uulu, head of the Kashka-Suu aiyl okmotu, Aksy district, Dzhalal-Abad region, 5,500 dollars were allocated for the creation of the artificial glacier.
In 2023, two more artificial glaciers were made in the same area at the pasture Kol near the village of Olon-Bulak and at the pasture Kok-Sai near the village of Kara-Bashat.
“Because of the water shortage, we have not had any grass for many years. Now a lot of it grow everywhere. And it gladdens us. We are very happy as we have both water and grass, and the cattle grazes freely. People have no conflicts. And it is all due to the artificial glacier,” Kumushai Abdykalykova said.
Kyrgyzstan is the agrarian, mountainous state. 94 per cent of the country’s territory consist of mountains, so farming is fraught with major difficulties. Access to clean drinking and irrigation water is one of them. Country’s farmers have been concerned about the shortage of irrigation water for farming.
The situation is very difficult in the south of the country. It has little precipitation in summer and almost no snow in winter. Mountain streams are main sources of water, yet they are located in hard-to-reach areas.
Moreover, temperature fluctuations lead to unstable precipitation patterns, while frequent temperature peaks cause drought, especially at mountain pastures.
In the extreme continental climate, extreme changes of air temperature ranging from +40 to -40 Celsius degrees and low rainfall in spring-summer period are peculiar for high mountain areas of the country mainly with grazing areas.
According to Zhyldyz Toktomamatova, national manager of UN FAO project “Shared prosperity through cooperation in border regions of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan,” artificial glaciers solve the problem of water balance regulation at remote pastures and create conditions for seasonal rotational grazing.
“During melting, artificial glaciers provide water for drinking and domestic needs to stock-breeders, and also for stock watering,” she said.
Thus, artificial glaciers not only help distribute water efficiently, but also resolve conflicts among farmers caused by this vital resource.
Artificial glacier technology
Artificial glaciers are built by freezing water spout at freezing temperatures. As a result, ice towers up to 30-50 metres high emerge, depending on the water pressure and elevation. The higher the elevation, the higher the water pressure, and the higher the glacier is, respectively.
All one needs to construct an artificial glacier is to install an underground pipeline approximately 1000-3000 metres away from the source (spring) depending on the terrain relief. The natural water current flows to the installed vertical pipe raised nearly 15-20 metres above the ground.
Ice is accumulated gradually in the artificial glacier once freezing days come. Its volume can reach several thousand cubic metres (tonnes). The volume of the glacier can be regulated depending on the water pressure planned for the irrigated area, as well as the needs of stock-breeders.
Once warm weather comes in spring and summer, the ice tower starts melting and provides constant access to fresh water to locals. The water can be used for drinking and domestic needs, as well as to water the cattle.
For example, if water pressure is 5 litres per second, 432,000 litres get accumulated per day, or 432 cubic metres of water, which makes 12,960 tonnes or cubic metres of water per month.
Ashar method
Creation of artificial glaciers is a relatively non-expensive process. Main costs are the cost of building materials, mainly plastic pipes needed for installation of the water pipe leading from the spring.
“Local residents started to build the artificial glacier by installing the underground pipe,” said Shekerbek Kamchybek uulu, head of aiyl okmotu.
A pipe 100 mm in diameter was used to feed water. Works were done to deliver water on its own, without the use of the engine. 55 persons dug out the ditch in one week and installed pipes leading from the mountain source to the pasture, where the locals have their cattle graze.
According to Shekerbek Kamchybek uulu, creation of the artificial glacier in the village of Kara-Dobo has given good results just in one year.
“The surroundings have become much greener, much grass has grown. And tourism has become more active, we have more tourists visiting us. But the most important thing is that the water shortage was eliminated,” he said.
According to Myktybek Kalandarov, director of the department of pastures and livestock breeding of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, creation of artificial glaciers has shown positive effect in Kyrgyzstan.
“We support creation of artificial glaciers. And in the future, if we have successful results of their use, we will be sharing this experience in Kyrgyzstan via training of our pasture specialists,” he said.
According to the “Kyrgyz Zhaiyty “ Association, 30 artificial glaciers have been created in different regions. In 2024, four artificial glaciers are planned to be built as part of another joint project in Batken and Leilek districts of Batken region of Kyrgyzstan.
According to climatologist Zoya Kretova, implementation of such adaptation measures as artificial glaciers will help mitigate future risks. This practice can be widely used and adapted among pasture users and become a sustainable practice.
“The process of adaptation to climate change must be at both the country and local levels. Artificial glaciers are one of the examples of local adaptation to the process of increasing aridity and degradation of pastures in Kyrgyzstan,” she notes.