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

NEXUS Gains in the Aral Sea Basin: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
2024
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A NEXUS Gains transboundary river basin brief shares examples of the Initiative’s work across five work packages in the Aral Sea Basin, covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Livelihoods / Fishing industry / Water productivity / Water storage / Ecosystems / Lakes / Socioeconomic environment / Nexus approaches
Record No:H053399

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Geodatabase and atlas: Khorezm Province, Uzbekistan
2024
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (10.0 MB)

This product highlights the collaborative efforts undertaken to develop a comprehensive geodatabase and atlas for the Khorezm Province, Uzbekistan. It encapsulates spatial data, analyses, and knowledge products aimed at addressing the challenges posed by arid climate conditions, water resource scarcity, and sustainable regional development. Utilizing modern tools like GIS, remote sensing, and climate modeling, this activity provides decision-makers with actionable insights for improving water use efficiency, land management, and ecological resilience in the region.

Remote sensing / Geographical information systems / Winds / Temperature / Precipitation / Evapotranspiration / Pumps / Meteorological stations / Climate change / Soil pH / Clay soils / Sandy soils / Soil salinity / Soil water content / Soil organic carbon / Soil density / Soil types / Groundwater / Drainage systems / Irrigation canals / Water user associations / Water authorities / Irrigation systems / Water-use efficiency / Water demand / Water supply / Water resources / Land use / Land cover / Maps / Satellite imagery / Digital elevation models / Atlases / Spatial databases
Record No:H053414

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Assessment of soil salinity changes under the climate change in the Khorezm Region, Uzbekistan
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (2.07 MB)

Soil salinity negatively affects plant growth and leads to soil degradation. Saline lands result in low agricultural productivity, affecting the well-being of farmers and the economic situation in the region. The prediction of soil salinization dynamics plays a crucial role in sustainable development of agricultural regions, in preserving the ecosystems, and in improving irrigation management practices. Accurate information through monitoring and evaluating the changes in soil salinity is essential for the development of strategies for agriculture productivity and efficient soil management. As part of an ex-ante analysis, we presented a comprehensive statistical framework for predicting soil salinity dynamics using the Homogeneity test and linear regression model. The framework was operationalized in the context of the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan, which suffers from high levels of soil salinity. The soil salinity trends and levels were projected under the impact of climate change from 2021 to 2050 and 2051 to 2100. The results show that the slightly saline soils would generally decrease (from 55.4% in 2050 to 52.4% by 2100 based on the homogeneity test; from 55.9% in 2050 to 54.5% by 2100 according to the linear regression model), but moderately saline soils would increase (from 31.2% in 2050 to 32.5% by 2100 based on the homogeneity test; from 31.2% in 2050 to 32.4% by 2100 according to the linear regression model). Moreover, highly saline soils would increase (from 13.4% in 2050 to 15.1% by 2100 based on the homogeneity test; from 12.9% in 2050 to 13.1% by 2100 according to the linear regression model). The results of this study provide an understanding that soil salinity depends on climate change and help the government to better plan future management strategies for the region.

Soil chemicophysical properties / Irrigated land / Meteorological stations / Air temperature / Nexus approaches / Food production / Energy / Water resources / Forecasting / Soil salinization / Climate change / Assessment / Soil salinity
Record No:H051303

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Rebound effects in irrigated agriculture in Uzbekistan: a stakeholder-based assessment
Sustainability, 2022
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (1.83 MB)

There is wide consensus among scholars and practitioners that improved irrigation technologies increase farm productivity and improve resource use efficiency. However, there is also growing empirical evidence that efficiency improvements in irrigation water use may create rebound effects, i.e., they may trigger changes in farmers’ behavior that partly or fully offset the technical water savings expected under ceteris paribus conditions. In extreme cases, total water consumption may even increase. We studied the impacts of introducing water-saving irrigation technologies in Uzbekistan and used structured stakeholder interviews for an expert-based assessment of potential rebound effects. Our findings contribute to the understanding of impacts of technological and institutional responses to environmental and economic pressures in sustaining water resources. The study demonstrates that although the objective of increasing irrigation efficiency may be achieved, the actual water savings under Uzbek conditions are likely to be reduced due to rebound effects. Unless there are effective policy interventions, we expect rebound effects through an increase in water supply for crops that compensates for current shortages of irrigation water availability, an increase in irrigated area, a switch to more water-intensive crops, and overall economic growth. The findings of this paper provide a reference point for estimating the water-saving potential and for evaluating and adapting policies.

Farmers / Gross national product / Policies / Economic growth / Irrigation water / Irrigated land / Water deficit / Water demand / Water availability / Irrigation systems / Water use efficiency / Irrigation efficiency / Nexus approaches / Food production / Energy / Water resources / Sustainability / Technology / Water conservation / Stakeholders / Rebound effects / Irrigated farming
Record No:H051302

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