Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country with a predominantly arid climate. Agriculture is a key sector, with cotton and grain being the primary crops, but the country faces significant water scarcity due to inefficient water management and the over-extraction of water from its main river systems, such as the Amu Darya. The Aral Sea disaster, caused by the diversion of rivers for irrigation, has had long-lasting environmental and economic consequences.

Water use in the country is highly dependent on irrigation, and the agricultural sector accounts for about 90% of total water consumption. As Uzbekistan strives for sustainable development, effective water management is critical for maintaining food security, economic stability, and environmental health.

IWMI in Uzbekistan

IWMI focuses on improving water resource management and sustainability, particularly in transboundary river basins such as the Amu Darya. Focal projects involves assessing water and land resources in the small transboundary tributaries of the Amu Darya River Basin, providing critical insights into water distribution and usage patterns across national borders.

IWMI researchers also analyze water, energy, and carbon emissions in lift-irrigated areas, such as the Karshi Steppe, to develop more sustainable practices that reduce the environmental impact of irrigation. Additionally, IWMI’s work integrates open-source datasets to assess the complex water-food-energy-climate nexus in Central Asia, offering innovative solutions for regional cooperation and sustainable resource management. Through the Water Efficient Allocation in a Central Asian Transboundary River Basin (WE-ACT) project, IWMI promotes more equitable and efficient water allocation strategies, supporting long-term environmental and economic resilience in Uzbekistan and neighboring countries.

Country representative

Barbara Janusz-Pawletta

Country Representative, Uzbekistan & Regional Representative, Central Asia

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Latest Uzbekistan publications

Displaying 4 publications

Geodatabase and diagnostic atlas: Kashkadarya Province, Uzbekistan
2018
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (6 MB)

Infrastructure / Climate change / Ecosystems / Vegetation / Soil types / Groundwater / Transportation / Streams / Watersheds / Reservoir storage / Lakes / Pumps / Drainage systems / Canals / Water use efficiency / Water storage / Water resources / Irrigation water / Irrigation systems / Population density / Rural areas / Rural population / Urban areas / Urban population / Satellite imagery / Simulation models / Maps / Digital technology / River basins / Remote sensing / GIS
Record No:H048924

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Collective action in the irrigation sector of Uzbekistan: a case study of water consumers’ associations (WCAs) in the Karshi Steppe. In Russian
2018
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (3 MB)

Case studies / Infrastructure / Drainage / Farmers / Steppes / Irrigation canals / Irrigation management / Irrigated farming / Irrigation systems / Water resources / Water management / Water user associations / Water use / Collective action
Record No:H048730

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Assessing water use, energy use, and carbon emissions in lift irrigated areas: a case study from Karshi Steppe in Uzbekistan [Abstract Only]
2018
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Advantages of a nexus approach in addressing complex environmental challenges are increasingly becoming clear. In Central Asia, however, the nexus between water-food-energy has not received adequate attention, as the very few studies that were conducted fell short of quantifying nexus tradeoffs and benefits at a practical, small scale. This paper applies a quantitative accounting method to assess water and energy use intensity in irrigated areas of Karshi Steppe of Central Asia that are supplied by pumping water uphill (lift-irrigated) from the underlying river. The results indicated that the potential water and energy savings, as well as the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, could be achieved by applying optimal planning deficit irrigation schedule simulated using Cropwat-8. Some 575 million cubic meters of water and 259 GWh of electricity can be saved while the CO2 equivalent emissions can be reduced by almost 122 ktons. Achieving these savings requires a mix of technical and policy components. This study describes an example of proper irrigation planning as a tool for water/energy savings and consequent reduction of CO2 emissions.

Case studies / Pumps / Steppes / Irrigation scheduling / Irrigated land / Emission reduction / Greenhouse gas emissions / Carbon / Eenergy consumption / Water conservation / Water use
Record No:H049100

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Assessment of the current situation of the Aksu River Basin in Kashkadarya Region: analytical report. [Project report prepared under the European Union Programme on Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Rural Areas in Uzbekistan. Component 1: National policy framework for water governance and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)]
2018
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Biodiversity / Ecosystems / Land resources / Risk analysis / Natural disasters / Irrigation systems / Agricultural development / Strategies / Stakeholders / Socioeconomic environment / Rural areas / Water quality / Water use / Water supply / Drinking water / Groundwater / Planning / Development policies / Water governance / Legal frameworks / Sustainability / Integrated management / Water management / Water resources / River basin development
Record No:H049441

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