Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Within this framework, practical and institutional cooperation has been established with a number of foreign countries, particularly with Turkey, yielding concrete and effective results.

One of the most important factors in promoting water-saving technologies is the availability of equipment and materials. In this regard, cooperation with major Turkish manufacturers “Akplast”, “Acar MAK-SAN”, “Ardent plastik” and “Agro new drip” has proven highly effective. These companies have invested in Uzbekistan, enabling the local production of polyethylene pipes, drip irrigation tapes, pumping and filtration equipment, as well as various types of fittings. This, in turn, accelerates the implementation of water-saving technologies, reduces dependence on imports, and allows farmers to access equipment at more affordable prices.

The human factor also plays a decisive role in the implementation of water-saving technologies. In this context, the establishment of the “School of Water Users” has been a timely and important initiative aimed at achieving efficient water use in agriculture.

The activities of this training program were launched on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources, the National Research University “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers,” and “Agrobank”. The main objective of the course is to enhance the professional capacity of farm managers, water users, and water sector specialists by equipping them with innovative technologies, as well as new knowledge and skills applied in advanced foreign practices, thereby improving their performance and achieving higher crop yields through efficient water use.

At the “School of Water Users”, training sessions on modern water-saving irrigation technologies are conducted on a systematic basis, drawing on the advanced experience of the Republic of Turkey. Within the framework of these trainings, theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to the design, construction, commissioning, and maintenance of water-saving technologies —based on Turkey’s best practices are regularly taught. At the same time, solutions adapted to local conditions from advanced international experience are widely implemented in the training process.

It should be noted that this project aims to further strengthen scientific and educational cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey, introduce effective approaches to water resource management into practice, and ensure sustainable development in agriculture. As a result, systemic mechanisms are being formed that contribute to increased production efficiency, environmental protection, and improvement of living standards through rational water use.

The Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan has established close cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Uzbekistan, as well as with the State Hydraulic Works General Directorate under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye. Within the framework of this cooperation, meetings and negotiations are held on a regular basis, and professional training programs have been launched.

In particular, at the end of last year, 36 specialists from the Ministry of Water Resources and its subordinate organizations took part in a study tour in the Republic of Türkiye.

Further deepening of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey in the water and agricultural sectors is planned. In particular, tasks have been set to widely introduce water-saving technologies in agricultural fields, prevent water losses in canals, implement digital technologies in the sector, link science with the achievement of high yields of cotton and grain through highly efficient water-saving technologies, and broadly introduce modern irrigation and drainage equipment into agriculture.

“Taking into consideration factors such as climate change and other transboundary challenges, it is undeniable that water availability in the Central Asian region will decrease significantly in the near future. In addition, competition among different sectors of the economy for water resources will further reduce the share allocated to agriculture.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, instructed all relevant authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure the rational use of water in irrigated agriculture and to minimize water losses,” says Bakhodir Boz, Head of the consulting company “Temelsu International Engineering Services Inc.”

According to him, water resource management can be grouped into the main categories of storage, conveyance, distribution, and use. It should be emphasized that the approach applied in Uzbekistan is a comprehensive one that covers all these categories. In terms of storage, new reservoirs are being constructed, and existing ones are being improved and/or upgraded to meet international standards. As for conveyance, intensive works are underway to line transport canals with concrete, through which water is delivered from sources to irrigated lands.

To increase the efficiency of water use in Uzbekistan, a number of measures are also being implemented to reduce water losses in irrigation networks. In particular, projects aimed at transitioning irrigation systems to closed pipeline networks, as well as constructing reservoirs and small water storage facilities, are being introduced. These measures contribute to the rational use of available resources under conditions of water scarcity and ensure stable irrigation of agricultural crops.

Today, cooperation between Uzbekistan and Türkiye in the field of water management is demonstrated not only through plans, but also through concrete practical results. This cooperation, which encompasses production, education, and infrastructure projects, has become an important pillar of reforms aimed at water conservation and will undoubtedly continue to contribute to ensuring sustainable development in the agricultural sector in the future.

Umidjon Mamarasulov,
Press Secretary,
Agency for the Operation of
ater Management Facilities