IWMI's current research includes two projects related to sustainable water resources management in agricultural areas in Central Asia. It includes, among others, the mapping of existing water related projects to identify research gaps, introducing innovative technologies in agriculture for sustainable management of water resources in agriculture, develop policy recommendations with the aim to establish national plans.

1. “OVERVIEW OF IWMI’S RESEARCH IN CENTRAL ASIA
AND FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR COLLABORATION”
Zafar Gafurov
International Water Management Institute, Central Asia
12.07.2016, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

2. INTERNATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
IWMI is a non-profit, scientific research organization with focus on the
sustainable use of water and land resources in developing countries
IWMI leads CRP 5: Water, Land & Ecosystems (WLE).
IWMI contributes to CRPs: CCAFS; DS; Humidtropics; AAS; Policies,
Institutions and Markets (PIM)

3. IWMI’S ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL ASIA
IWMI started its activities in Central Asia in 2001 with
main focus of research on:
Member of Regional Program for
Sustainable Agricultural
Development in Central Asia and
Caucasus led by ICARDA
Implemented Programs/Projects in
Uzbekistan:
 SDC: IWRM-FV (2001-2012)
 SDC: WPI-PL (2008-2012)
 ADB: Bright Spots and others
 CRP Water, Land & Ecosystems
 GIZ/BMZ: Improving irrigation
efficiency in Potato fields
 IWMI hosts GWP-CACENA
 Partnership with European
Universities (Humboldt University
Berlin, CDE/University of Bern and
other active networks/initiatives

4. CHALLENGES IN THE REGION
Central Asian states face four main challenges
with regard to agriculture and water security
Population growth remains high in all countries within the region.
There is a need for increasing food production in the region.
Water – Energy – Food Nexus
Salinization and waterlogging
Climate change

5. IWMI’S ACTIVITIES OVER PAST PERIOD
 Improving water management and water productivity for potato crops
 Increasing WUE for double cropping: winter wheat/ mungbean
 Improving water and energy productivity
for grapes, orchards, legumes, winter wheat and potato
 Financial and economic sustainability of water management
organizations;
 Impact of establishing institutions for food security
 Introduction of IWRM principles and Water
Governance
 Effective water management institutions
 Identifying best practices for water savings
 Improving irrigation performance
 Water and energy productivity improvement
 GIS/Remote sensing and climate change based
analysis on water management and balances

6. CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Currently IWMI – CA conducting two main projects in the region
related to sustainable water resources management in
agricultural areas.
• Mapping and documenting existing water related projects to
find research gaps
• Overview and mapping next steps to introduce innovative
technologies in agriculture for sustainable management of
water resources in agriculture
• Based on this findings, we develop a recommendations for
policy and institutions to develop a national plans
• Water and energy use efficiency analysis

7. LIFT IRRIGATION IN KARSHI STEPPE, UZBEKISTAN
Canal
Pumps
• Pumping distance is about 80 km
• Pumping altitude is about 150 m
• Irrigated area is about 335,000 ha
An illustration of
water-energy-food
nexus

8. CLIMATE CHANGE: IWMI RESEARCH EXAMPLE
Simulated changes of glacier systems in Syrdarya basin
a. Baseline (1961-1990)
b. Simulation changes (2070-2090) based on HadCM2
c. ECHAM4 scenarios (2070-2090)
a.
b.
c.

9. CLIMATE CHANGE
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
1951
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
2080
2090
2100
Etomm
Time
Annual sum Eto
1
2
3
4
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
1
18
35
52
69
86
103
120
137
154
171
188
205
222
239
256
273
290
307
324
341
358
Temperature
Temperature analysis
Obs Sim
Observation and Simulated data comparison
Comparison was done for the year 1990
Temperature change is about 3-4 degrees by 2100

10. SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ET0
About 100 mm increase on ET0

11. CONSEQUENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE
REGIONAL CONTEXT
 Continuation of degradation of glaciations and shortage of
snowfalls in the mountains.
 Increasing water resource deficit, worsening of the water
quality.
 Increase of natural risks, extreme hydrometeorologic events
(droughts, floods, snow slides, etc).
 Decrease in the productivity of modern varieties of
agricultural crops, and productivity of pastures and livestock,
increased risks of food security.
 Increase of risks for the health of the population.
 Toughening of the Aral sea crisis.

12. FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR COLLABORATION
 Introduction of new technologies and approaches in water and land
management from field to basin scales;
 Adapt global best management practices in transboundary waters to strengthen
cooperation over shared waters in Central Asia;
 Assess trade-offs of alternative development scenarios, taking a nexus
perspective;
 Incorporate ecosystem approaches into agricultural systems;
 Identify areas to improve environmental conservation, conduct water quality
assessments, introduce water saving technologies;
 Assess performance and identify solutions for agricultural water management –
large- and small-scale;
 Improve resilience to climate shocks – provide flood and drought analysis for
planning and response, and analysis of big data in real time;
 Carry out financial and economic feasibility assessments of water management
in the region;
 Strengthening capacity of water users and water institutions and achieving
uptake of research findings

13. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!