The document provides for a number of urgent measures for the construction of 20 new reservoirs, the reconstruction of 15 reservoirs and more than 14 thousand km of irrigation canals, as well as the modernization of hydraulic structures in order to ensure the country’s water security and reduce water shortages.
The implementation of a comprehensive plan will allow by 2030 to increase the area of irrigated land to 2.5 million hectares, and the volume of available water resources by 2.4 cubic kilometers by reducing water consumption during transportation from 50% to 25%. In addition, the implementation of the plan will improve the condition of hydraulic structures for sustainable water supply to economic sectors, as well as reduce the risk of emergency situations.
To encourage farmers to use water-saving technologies, work has begun jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture to increase the share of subsidizing costs for the creation of irrigation systems and the purchase of drip and sprinkler irrigation equipment from 50% to 80%. According to estimates by the Kazakh Research Institute of Water Management, this will save about 2.1 cubic kilometers of water, as well as increase agricultural yields by 1.5-2 times.
To develop a system for accounting and forecasting the country’s water resource potential, as well as improve information systems for water resources management, it is planned to create an information and analytical center. In addition, the ministry, together with the National Company “Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary”, is developing an interactive geoinformation platform on water resources.
The concept provides for the digitalization of more than 3.5 thousand kilometers of canals and the automation of water accounting in irrigation systems. For the rational use of water resources, it is also planned to improve the reclamation condition of irrigated lands.
At the main water artery of central Kazakhstan and the capital – the K. Satpayev Canal – the efficiency of pumping stations is only 30%. The Big Almaty Canal has not been repaired for 40 years from the date of commissioning.
In addition, in the Turkestan, Kyzylorda and Zhambyl regions, most of the main and inter-farm canals are in a worn-out condition – as a result, water losses amount to 40%.
Currently in Kazakhstan the cost of supplying water to farmers is subsidized. 50% of the costs for the purchase of water-saving technologies are also reimbursed. This year it is planned to raise this level to 80%,” while drip irrigation is used on only 84 thousand hectares out of the planned 312 thousand.
