Page 41 - Demo Faces

In Kazakhstan, irrigation systems have either diminished in capacity or become non-functional due to underinvestment and inadequate or damaged water metering. Weak sta capacity and low
irrigation tari s at the irrigation operator, state-owned enterprise Kazvodkhoz (KVK), have hampered operations and management of irrigation networks. Obsolete agricultural practices and on-farm water management technologies exacerbate the problem.
A $250 million ADB loan project will rehabilitate and modernize irrigation and drainage networks, whilst lack of capacity will be addressed by supporting farmer organizations to improve on-farm water management and diversify to high-value crops. The loan will also support KVK to develop its institutional capacity and improve its irrigation management and internal governance.
Find out more: Kazakhstan: Irrigation Rehabilitation Project
“The results will be achieved through four innovations: local currency lending to KVK will mitigate foreign currency risk, and an asset management plan will improve its tari planning, and ensure cost recovery for operations and maintenance. KVK’s supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA) will be established to help management both locally and at remote locations monitor, gather and process real-time data for more e ective water management. It will also help introduce a more cost-e ective geosynthetic material grid (geogrid) to replace the traditional steel reinforcement.”
Yaozhou Zhou
Principal Water Resources Specialist, Central and West Asia Department
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