Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reported that 38% of irrigation water is being lost in Karakalpakstan. During a meeting dedicated to the socio-economic development of the region in Nukus, he specified that 5.7 billion cubic meters of water are used for irrigating 417,000 hectares of agricultural land, of which 2.1 billion cubic meters are lost.
Mirziyoyev noted that 44 million cubic meters of water are lost annually from the Yonbosh canal in Turktul, out of 115 million cubic meters flowing through it. He added that fully concreting this canal will allow for the watering of an additional 9,000 hectares and create fodder reserves for 15,000 head of livestock.
Furthermore, the president stated that concreting an eight-kilometer section of the Erkindaryo canal in the Bozatau district will increase the area of cultivated land by 3,000 hectares and improve water supply for 15,000 hectares. The construction of three hydraulic structures and 22 artesian wells will provide an additional 5,000 hectares of pasture for animal feed.
Mirziyoyev ordered the allocation of a total of 135 billion soms for these works and the completion of concreting two canals by March 1st. In Turktul and the Bozatau district, 17,000 hectares of fodder crops are planned to be planted next year, which will provide income for 2,000 people.
The president positively assessed the receipt of a grant from Japan amounting to 4.5 million US dollars for modernizing water resource management systems, setting a goal to increase the volume of such grants to 100 million dollars next year.
He also mentioned that last year, 276 water pumps were replaced with energy-efficient models, which required 30 billion soms. This replacement allows for savings of 16 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. An upgrade of another 59 pumps in Karakalpakstan and 200 pumps in other regions is scheduled for April 1st.