- ADB is helping Uzbekistan modernize its water infrastructure to render it more efficient and climate-resilient.
- ADB is helping Uzbekistan reduce water consumption in agriculture by improving irrigation systems and expanding the use of water-saving technologies.
- ADB is helping Uzbekistan to introduce “Smart Water” and other similar digital technologies to help monitor and account for water use and consumption.
With funding support from the Multidonor Trust Fund under the Water Financing Partnership Facility, ADB helped the Government of Uzbekistan develop its National Water Sector Development Concept 2030 and Strategy for Water Resources Management and Irrigation Sector Development 2021-2023. Both address critical challenges in water management. These serve as a roadmap for modernizing Uzbekistan’s water infrastructure to render it more efficient and climate-resilient. The roadmap aims to reduce water consumption in agriculture by improving irrigation systems and expanding the use of water-saving technologies.
Transcript
Water demand in Uzbekistan is rising due to population and economic growth while supply is decreasing due to climate change.
To help the country better manage its water recourses, ADB helped the government develop its National Water Sector Development Concept 2030 and Strategy for Water Resources Management and Irrigation Sector Development 2021-2023.
Both address critical challenges in water management.
Bakhtiyar Kamalov
Head of Investment Projects Implementation Division
Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan
According to this strategy, investment projects are being implemented jointly with international financial institutions in order to introduce water management units, canals and reservoirs, to introduce new technologies, implement water-saving technologies, as well as to implement the public and private partnerships.
Yasmin Siddiqi
Director for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Division, Central and West Asia
Asian Development Bank
Importantly, the strategy stresses upon two main areas. Firstly, the application of digital technologies and how this can improve the ways in which we manage water. And secondly, it is also demonstrates how championing and leadership can play an important role in Uzbekistan which is now playing an important role in water for the region.
These serve as a roadmap for modernizing Uzbekistan’s water infrastructure to render it more efficient and climate-resilient.
The roadmap aims to reduce water consumption in agriculture by improving irrigation systems and expanding the use of water-saving technologies.
Cindy Malvicini
Country Director
Uzbekistan Resident Mission
Asian Development Bank
The strategy introduces “Smart Water” and other similar digital technologies to help monitor and account for water use and consumption. New innovative forecasting systems will also be coming in play in coming years. This will help Uzbekistan to monitor the flow of water of major rivers including extremes of flood and drought. The strategy meets the long term needs of Uzbekistan’s growing population and economy against the backdrop of climate change and increased water scarcity.
With these long-term plans in place, robust processes will encourage greater cooperation within the region. And help achieve sustainable water resources management in the years to come.
