Central Asia Republics – Surkhandarya Irrigation System Improvements Pilot Project

Surkhandarya Oblast (Province) is one of Uzbekistan’s major agricultural areas, with 80 percent of the population living in rural areas, and a local economy dependent on irrigated agriculture. The Surkhandarya Irrigation System irrigates 250,000 hectares, and covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. The water for the Surkhandarya system comes from the Amu Darya River, with most of the water pumped from the river into large canals. The pumping is very expensive and a huge cost to the national economy. USAID’s Special Initiatives Water Project (SIWP) seeks to increase the efficiency of the irrigation system by providing substantial improvements to the main delivery canals.

Riverside Technology, inc. (RTi) was contracted by PA Consultants, Inc., to assist USAID and the Government of Uzbekistan with improvements in the operational capacity of the country’s main irrigation canals serving the Surkhandarya Oblast. To reduce cost while simultaneously providing improved service, RTi staff carried out an assessment and developed specifications to install more than 40 automated water flow monitoring stations at key system locations, and provide modern two-way voice and data communications. Accurate and timely automated water flow data will allow system managers to improve daily operations efficiency and decision-making for long range planning, thereby improving overall management capabilities.

Another key component of the project was RTi’s installation of a weather station and computer software to better estimate crop water needs and water delivery requirements. Current irrigation system inefficiencies and uncertainties will be reduced, and water availability will be better matched to crop requirements. Other components of the project include RTi’s assistance in repairing and improving critical structures and equipment for cleaning, and maintenance of the irrigation canals to help ensure good operating condition in the future.

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