Uzbekistan : Water Resources Management Sector Project (formerly Irrigation Project / Agriculture Sector Development)

Project Name

Water Resources Management Sector Project (formerly Irrigation Project / Agriculture Sector Development)

Project Number

40086-013

Country / Economy

• Uzbekistan

Project Status

Closed

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Loan

Source of Funding / Amount

Loan 2492-UZB: Water Resources Management Sector Project (formerly Irrigation Project / Agriculture Sector Development)

Source	Amount
Ordinary capital resources	US$ 76.60 million

Loan 2493-UZB: Water Resources Management Sector Project (formerly Irrigation Project / Agriculture Sector Development)

Source	Amount
Asian Development Fund	US$ 15.00 million

Strategic Agendas

• Environmentally sustainable growth
• Inclusive economic growth

Drivers of Change

• Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
• Governance and capacity development

Sector / Subsector

• Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Irrigation - Rural water policy, institutional and capacity development

Gender

Effective gender mainstreaming

Description

The Project continues the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the rehabilitation and upgrading of irrigation and drainage infrastructure and capacity development for water management. The Project is structured as a sector loan project. It involves two areas of the country: (i) the Zarafshan River Basin, and (ii) the Fergana Valley. The Project will (i) rehabilitate and upgrade pumping stations, (ii) rehabilitate and upgrade inter-farm irrigation and drainage canals and structures, and (iii) improve inter-farm water management through state water agencies and on-farm management through water users' associations (WUAs). The primary aim is sustained and increased agriculture productivity.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Agriculture remains a key sector of the economy and the main source of livelihood for the rural population. Irrigation and drainage are key factors in agriculture, and critical to productivity, competitiveness, and environmental management. However, the infrastructure is deteriorating rapidly. Pump stations are losing capacity and the inter-farm facilities are contributing to substantial water losses. Rehabilitation of pump stations and inter-farm canals is essential to avoid the partial or complete collapse of irrigation systems, with consequent losses in agricultural production and farm incomes. To realize the full benefit of the infrastructure rehabilitation and provide for more effective operation and maintenance in the future, it is essential to improve water management at the basin, inter-farm canal, and on-farm levels.

The rehabilitation needs are substantial, but the level of funding available from the Government and development partners is limited. This means prioritizing investments. The Government has requested the focus to be on rehabilitation of pump stations and related inter-farm canals, together with improved water management from the river basin to the WUA level.

Impact

Sustained and increased agriculture production and productivity.

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Irrigation systems fully functional and operated in an efficient manner.

Progress Toward Outcome

Large turn-key contracts for rehabilitation of 7 pump stations with associated irrigation infrastructure have been completed.

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

1. Irrigation and drainage infrastructure is rehabilitated and upgraded

2. Improved water management capacity

3. Efficient and effective project management system is developed

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

1. Irrigation and drainage infrastructure was rehabilitated and upgraded. This includes 7 pump stations (Narpay, Besharik, Suvli, Furkat-1, Kizil-Ravat-2, Bulokboshi, Dangara), 106 km of canals, and 224 control and measurement structures.

2. Capacity of water management and consumption agencies has been improved.

3. The efficient and effective project management system was developed and implemented.

Geographical Location

Abdusamat, Beshariq Tumani, Buloqboshi Tumani, Danghara Tumani, Fergana Valley, Fergana Valley, Furqat Tumani, Narpay Tumani, Paxtachi Tumani, Uychi Tumani, Zeravshan River Basin

Safeguard Categories

Environment

B

Involuntary Resettlement

C

Indigenous Peoples

C

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

The Project falls under category B for environment. Initial environmental examinations (IEE) were prepared for each subproject. The Project is unlikely to cause any significant environmental impacts and will be beneficial because of drainage improvements. Potential impacts, mitigation measures, and reporting requirements are presented in the environmental mitigation and monitoring plan (EMP) prepared for each subproject. The EMP defines institutional responsibilities and provides cost estimates. The monitoring program under the EMP of the subprojects includes provisions for regular sampling of the water quality from the irrigation pump intakes and the drainage outlet from each WUA area. Individual designs for infrastructure rehabilitation and upgrading are to be submitted to the State Committee for Nature Protection (SCNP) for review. These designs should include a site-specific environmental mitigation plan that is based on generic guidelines provided in the IEE, which sets out environmental safeguards and mitigation measures to be incorporated in tender documentation for design and works contracts. The project site supervisors and the Project Management Office will monitor compliance with these safeguards and mitigation measures, which will be subject to inspection by the SCNP. An environmental assessment and review procedure (EARP) was prepared to provide guidance for preparation of IEEs.

Involuntary Resettlement

The Project will involve rehabilitation and upgrading (R&U) of existing pump stations, inter-farm irrigation canals, and drainage systems. It is anticipated that all R&U works will be within the boundaries of the Government's right-of-way for existing structures, canals, and drains. Rehabilitation activities, such as replacement of pumps and rehabilitation of canals, will be phased to ensure there is no disruption to the on-farm irrigation water supply. Civil works implementation will be scheduled during the non-vegetation season to minimize the risk of disruption. It is not anticipated that any land acquisition or permanent displacement will take place. Any impact would be associated with construction and should be limited in its scope and duration. A resettlement framework with compensation matrix has been prepared and agreed with the Government, consistent with ADB's policy for sector projects, to address any impact, should it occur.

Indigenous Peoples

Based on the poverty and social assessment, no ethnic minority issues are present in the project area and no indigenous peoples safeguard issues exist.

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

Discussions were held with staff of MAWR, district agricultural staff, WUA staff, pump operators, private farms, dekhan farms, household plots owners and members of the community who live and work within the Narpay core subproject area. Key stakeholders included the farmers, poor families, especially women-headed families, women and children.

During Project Implementation

Consultations were held with all stakeholders to ensure WUA members/farmers involvement in the planning of rehabilitation works especially for inter-farm canals and drains.

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

The Project will provide 154 person-months of international consultants and 490 person-months of national consultants. Consulting services will include project implementation for components 1 and 2 and support to the Project Management Office and Project Implementation Units, including planning, design, and construction supervision of rehabilitation and upgrading works as well as project management, procurement, financial management, institutional analysis, and monitoring and evaluation most of which will be provided under a single contract package. The international and national consultants will be recruited in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants using consulting firms, full technical proposals, and quality- and cost-based selection with 80:20 weighting.

Procurement

All ADB-financed procurement of goods, works, and consulting services will follow ADB's Procurement Guidelines. Major contracts will include (i) supply and installation of pump and motors, and rehabilitation of the pumping stations and associated infrastructure; (ii) civil works for rehabilitation of the inter-farm canals, agricultural drains, and associated infrastructure; and (iii) project management and training support. Civil works contracts costing more than $1 million and contracts for supply (and installation) of equipment and materials valued at more than $1 million, will be awarded under international competitive bidding while those valued at $1 million or less will be awarded following national competitive bidding procedures acceptable to ADB. Equipment and materials packages valued at less than $100,000 will be procured through the shopping mode.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Nasirov, Tal'at Ubaydullaevich

Responsible ADB Department

Central and West Asia Department

Responsible ADB Division

Uzbekistan Resident Mission (URM)

Executing Agencies

Ministry of Water Resources

Timetable

Concept Clearance

22 Sep 2008

Fact Finding

04 Aug 2008 to 27 Aug 2008

MRM

22 Oct 2008

Approval

17 Dec 2008

Last Review Mission

-

PDS Creation Date

24 Oct 2008

Last PDS Update

31 Mar 2017

Funding

Loan 2492-UZB

Loan 2493-UZB