In October 2025, a project to implement innovative water-saving technologies was successfully completed in the arid region of the Zarafshan River Basin. An intelligent drip irrigation system has been installed on 10 hectares of experimental orchards at the Navoi branch of the Horticulture, Viticulture and Winemaking Research Institute named after Academic Mahmud Mirzaev.

This initiative resulted from close cooperation between the “Climate Risk Management in Central Asia” (CRM CA) programme and UNDP, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan. The project is designed to enhance agricultural resilience to climate change and water scarcity.

The new system consists of a complex of high-tech solutions that transform a traditional orchard into a “smart” open-air laboratory. It features 18 soil moisture sensors and an automated weather station, which allow for real-time irrigation optimization. Furthermore, the system is equipped with modules for the precise and automated distribution of mineral fertilizers along with water through fertigation.

A key component of the initiative was a two-day training session held on October 30–31, attended by farmers, water management specialists, and local administration representatives. Participants not only studied the theoretical principles of digital irrigation management but also observed the system’s operation firsthand in orchards where apricot saplings have already been planted.

The Navoi Region is one of the most water-scarce regions in Uzbekistan. The successful implementation of this pilot project demonstrates how digital innovations can increase water and land productivity, strengthen food security and the region’s export potential, and serve as a model for scaling similar technologies across the country. The institute’s site now functions as a demonstration center for training farmers from neighboring districts.