12.08.2025

On August 12, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the presentation of proposals on water resources management and irrigation sector development. 

In the conditions of water deficit in our region, its careful and rational use – a highly relevant objective. This has constant attention in Uzbekistan: irrigation networks are reconstructed, water saving technologies are introduced. 

In particular, in 2020–2024, 60 trillion soums of budget funds and $622 million of foreign investment were allocated for these purposes. If in 2020 the areas where water-saving technologies were applied accounted for only 4 percent of the total irrigated land, by 2025 this figure had reached 50 percent.

Continuing these efforts, a program for water resources management and the development of the irrigation sector for 2025–2028 has been developed.

At the presentation, officials reported on the measures envisioned in the program.

Priority attention in the program is given to the rational use of water resources. It is planned to reconstruct 2551 kilometers of irrigation networks. Replacing outdated equipment at pumping stations with more energy-efficient units will reduce their annual electricity consumption from 6,8 to 6,2 billion kilowatt-hours.

Soil condition is an important factor in water consumption. Measures are planned to reduce the area with low water supply from 424 thousand to 276 thousand hectares, as well as to improve lands with high salinity and shallow groundwater. Due to this, 460 thousand hectares of land will be returned to agricultural circulation.

Water-saving technologies will be introduced on 1,4 million hectares, including drip irrigation on 293 thousand hectares. At 20 major facilities, control and measuring equipment will be modernized.

To minimize the human factor in water accounting, modern monitoring will be implemented at 12 thousand reclamation wells and 1750 pumps. Twelve large hydraulic structures will be transferred to automated management using digital technologies.

As a result of the program, the share of canals with concrete lining will increase from the current 39 to 47 percent, the quality of irrigation networks will improve, and water losses will decrease. It is expected that savings will preserve 10 billion cubic meters of water already this year and up to 14 billion cubic meters by 2028.

The Head of State approved these proposals and endorsed the Program for water resources management and development of the irrigation sector in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2025–2028.

In the course of the presentation information was also presented on increasing the effectiveness and digitizing the sphere, expanding private sector participation.

At present, the automation of 18755 hydrological posts in regions, districts and households has begun, with the next stage being the equipping of water distribution points in the fields.

The issue of digitalizing the water management sector was given special attention. It was instructed to integrate 11 sectoral programs into a single platform, establish an IT center and a situation center with broad use of the capabilities of “Uzbekcosmos”.

A task was set to equip 5200 pumps with electricity and water meters, switch large pumps to renewable energy sources. The collected data will be accumulated on a digital platform, where an analysis of the economic efficiency of water use will be carried out.

Currently, 2612 water facilities have been transferred to private management, and now large pumping stations will also be offered to the private sector with creation of attractive conditions for investors.

Last year, 159 state water supply service institutions were created on the basis of district irrigation departments. To improve their activities, it is planned to grant them the right to independently allocate their own funds.

Since the quality of services and the efficiency of the sector largely depend on the qualifications of specialists, a training center for 200 people will be established to enhance the skills of employees.

The President instructed to improve the regulatory framework of the sector, increase the efficiency of water use, and strengthen the culture of careful attitude toward water in the society.
 

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