Water resources used by Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are essential for the agriculture of both countries. Here’s a special coverage by CABAR.asia of the situation in one of such villages, where locals use water from the channels passing through the two countries.
Dobo-Korgon village council of Aravan district, Osh region, is one of the hottest places of Kyrgyzstan. Most locals do crop farming here. Work afield starts in February and ends in late autumn. Water is always a significant requirement for them.
Dilaram lives in the village of Nurabad, Dobo-Korgon village council. Soon she is gathering her second harvest, corn this time. She planted onions in spring and has already sold the harvest. According to her, there were no problems with irrigation water this year because the year was rainy. Therefore, the irrigation was smooth, with no long queues.
“In spring, we gathered onion and sold the harvest. Then, we planted the corn. It is almost ripe. We’ll harvest it and plant onions late autumn. In our region, we take two crops a year. Last year and this year we had no problems with irrigation because there was a lot of water. Two-three years ago, we irrigated by turns. Water master used to come and put everyone on the list and we irrigated at a certain time. There was a lack of water. But the farmers on the other side of the channel have no water problems,” she said.
Dobo-Korgon village council is located on both sides of channel South Fergana, which allows locals from both countries to use water. The channel passes through Aravan district and connects Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
The villages located along Sough Fergana channel take potable and irrigation water from the channel. There is an interstate agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which regulates the volumes and time of water withdrawal.
“When we receive water from the two channels, we try to provide it to the farmers. The channels are Fergana and Aravansarai. Last year, we received 8 million cubic metres of water from Fergana channel, and this year we received 10 million. Water management office enters into a contract and we use water for 8 months as we think proper. The only time, in the middle of August, during cotton picking, the water is being stopped and the channel is being drained. Nevertheless, we receive the required amount of water at this time. We have no problems with receiving water from the neighbouring country,” said Kochkor Mamasaliev, head of the association of water users ‘Turk Ata’ of Nurabad village.
The upper part of the village receives water from Aravansai channel, which is fed from Papan reservoir. According to farmers, water problems and water shortage occur during mudflows or other emergencies.
“This year, we have not had any problems with water because of the rains. But we used to have many difficulties previously. If mudflows occur, we do not receive water, and queues and conflicts occur. We have to irrigate our lands when it is our turn. Those who receive water from Fergana channel do not have such problems. We are located above, and we cannot get water from there,” one of the farmers said.
According to Davranbek Shamshidinov, head of Dobo-Korgon village council, 70 per cent of irrigated lands receive water from South Fergana channel. To solve the problem of water shortage in other parts, we are planning to build a pumping station, where water will be stored in winter.
“Every village has two-three water wells for potable water. We are provided with water for 94 per cent. We have started construction of the pumping station and if we collect water we will provide it from there in July-August when there is the water shortage,” said the head of the village council.
According to Zakirzhon Mamadaliev, deputy of the local council, there used to be a pumping station in the Soviet period. It was used to provide water to upper villages.
“We crop everything. It is a hard labour. There is still water shortage in Aravansai. It is difficult to get water to the villages that are upstream of the channel from Uzbekistan. During the Union times, we used to have a pump and we took water from it. Then, the pipes were sold and gone. Now we have prepared a project and if it is approved, it will be sent to the republican budget. If it is implemented, the district will have no water problems,” Mamadaliev said.
Dobo-Korgon is one of the examples when water from neighbouring countries’ channels is used. There are several similar villages in Osh region. The region shares borders with Andizhan and Fergana regions of Uzbekistan. A few rivers and channels are located there, which run through both countries. Water withdrawal and distribution is regulated under international agreements in these regions.
One of them is Savai channel in Kara-Suu district. The channel originates in Andizhan reservoir and passes through Savai and Sarai village councils in Kara-Suu district. Nearly 3 thousand hectares of land receive water from the channel. 45 million cubic metres of water is taken according to a special limit under the international and interstate agreement.
“There is Isfairam channel, which takes water from Kuvasai district of Fergana region. The channel takes water from Isfairam River. It passes through Kadamzhai district of Batken region to Uzbekistan, and then returns to Too-Moyun of Aravan district. Over 500 hectares of land are located here, in Yntymak village council of Nookat district and Ak-Bulak village council of Kyzyl-Kyya, which makes nearly 1,000 hectares. Sometimes, they have minor problems when the water from Kadamzhai does not reach Uzbekistan and then us. In such cases, we hold trilateral talks. Last year, we went to Fergana and held meetings to solve the issue,” said Ruslan Abibullaev, head of the Main Office for Water Management of Osh.
As to the water that flows from Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan, 18 per cent of water from Ak-Buura River is transferred to Uzbekistan under the interstate agreement. According to the plan, the water passes through Dostuk on special request. Nearly 10 thousand hectares of land in Zhalalkuduk and Kozhoabad districts in the neighbouring country receive water from the channel.
Uzbekistan starts providing water to Kyrgyzstan in March. Kyrgyzstan starts providing water to the neighbouring country in April, after completion of clearance and repairs.
According to Seitek Kulubaev, akim of Aravan district, there have been no problems in the joint use of water between the two countries so far. However, pump stations are being built given possible changes arising from climate change.
“Previously, during dry seasons, there were water shortages both on our and on their side, and we settled all issues by negotiations. In the last 2-3 years, there has been enough water. Besides, given the climate change and draughts, we have built several pump stations; some are being built right now. The stations will be used to provide the maximum amount specified in agreements. If there is a shortage of water, we will take it from there,” Kulubaev said.