| Project Detail |
The proposed project will build on lessons learned from past and ongoing projects of ADB in water resources in Uzbekistan. It will undertake a long-term, strategic and knowledge-based approach. The project will deliver climate adaptive solutions to water resources management by modernizing irrigation and drainage in selected subprojects within the Amu Darya and (selective reaches of the) Zarafshan River Basins in Uzbekistan.
Project Name Climate Adaptive Water Resources Management in the Aral Sea Basin Sector Project
Project Number 53120-001
Country / Economy Uzbekistan
Project Status Proposed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Loan
Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 0842-UZB: Climate Adaptive Water Resources Management in the Aral Sea Basin Sector Project
Asian Development Fund US$ 3.00 million
Grant 0843-UZB: Climate Adaptive Water Resources Management in the Aral Sea Basin Sector Project
High Level Technology Fund US$ 300,000.00
Loan 4207-UZB: Climate Adaptive Water Resources Management in the Aral Sea Basin Sector Project
Concessional ordinary capital resources lending US$ 150.00 million
TA 6949-UZB: Climate Adaptive Water Resources Management in the Aral Sea Basin Sector Project
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 850,000.00
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector
Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Irrigation - Rural water policy, institutional and capacity development - Water-based natural resources management
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The proposed project will build on lessons learned from past and ongoing projects of ADB in water resources in Uzbekistan. It will undertake a long-term, strategic and knowledge-based approach. The project will deliver climate adaptive solutions to water resources management by modernizing irrigation and drainage in selected subprojects within the Amu Darya and (selective reaches of the) Zarafshan River Basins in Uzbekistan.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
Uzbekistan has the largest population of the Aral Sea Basin (ASB) countries. In 2015, about 12.8% of people in Uzbekistan lived below the national poverty line of which 75% live in rural areas. Agriculture employs 40% of the total workforce and represents 17% of gross domestic product. In 2018, growth in agriculture slowed to 2.7% from 5.8% as crop diversification and a water deficit held growth in crop output to 1.1%. Improved water resources management is critical for sustained agricultural development and economic growth.
Transboundary water resources are an overarching challenge for Uzbekistan. Of the total 123 cubic kilometer of water resources of the ASB, only 9% originates within Uzbekistan highlighting its water dependency. The country relies on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers and their tributaries which emanate in upstream riparian countries (Afghanistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan). As these countries continue to develop water resources for hydropower, transboundary water cooperation becomes increasingly relevant.
Irrigated agriculture is the largest consumer of water resources accounting for 93% of all water utilized with 96% of the total cropped land irrigated (from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers and their tributaries). About 68% of irrigated land produces cotton and wheat. These are highly water consumptive and have low productivity (averaging 2.25 tons/ha for cotton and 4.2 tons/ha for wheat). The government has committed to converting 170,000 ha of cotton and 50,000 ha of wheat to horticulture and livestock from 2016 to 2020.
Major river diversion for intensive agriculture, over-irrigation and poor drainage have resulted in serious environmental degradation. Reduced river flows into the Aral Sea has resulted in irreversible desiccation and major impacts. High seepage losses in the irrigation system, over-application of irrigation water and deteriorated drainage networks have caused soil salinization and land degradation. In Uzbekistan, 51% of irrigated land is affected by salinity resulting in 20,000 ha of land lost annually due to saline soils.
The Government of Uzbekistan has initiated actions on policy and legal frameworks for the water sector; progress is slow, and approvals protracted. There is no medium or long-term vision for the water sector and no roadmap to create an enabling environment for modernization of water resources management.
Impact Food and water security in the Aral Sea Basin improved
Outcome Climate-resilient and modernized irrigation systems established in selected I&D subprojects in the Amu Darya and the Zarafshan River basins.
Outputs
Main canal water supply systems modernized
Interfarm Irrigation and Drainage systems and on-farm water management modernized
Policy and institutions strengthened for climate adaptive and sustainable water resources management
Geographical Location Fergana, Jizzakh, Namangan, Samarkand, Tashkent |
