Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- According to experts, today there is a shortage of irrigation water in Jambyl region of Kazakhstan, which negatively affects the country’s agricultural sector.

The main reasons for the shortage of irrigation water are:

1) low water in the basins of the Chu and Talas rivers, the water resources of which are used for irrigation;

2) non-compliance by the Kyrgyz side with obligations to supply water through Chu and Talas (in the current year Bishkek supplied 500 million cubic meters instead of 1 billion cubic meters);

3) water loss during transportation.

Experts note that due to the fact that Kyrgyzstan regularly violates agreements on the provision of water, the farmers of Jambyl region. experience an acute shortage of irrigation water. This was especially felt in July this year, when the need for irrigation increased due to the heat. According to experts, in the fields of Jambyl region, it is required to serve 35-40 cubic meters. m of water per second, but the peasants received half as much.

This circumstance led to:

1) loss of more than 36 thousand tons of crop;

2) reduction of acreage;

3) a decrease in the volume of sowing of agricultural crops.

In addition, Maktaaral district of Jambyl region, annually does not receive 10-18% of irrigation water, which is why cotton growers are forced to irrigate fields only 1-2 times, instead of the required 3 times per season.

In order to solve these problems, Nur-Sultan plans to: a) build 3 new reservoirs along the Chu and Talas rivers in Jambyl region; b) create an effective mechanism for the implementation of agreed water supply schedules within the Chu-Talas Water Commission (established in 2006); c) take measures to organize monitoring of the volume of water resources in neighboring countries.

In general, it is emphasized that the measures taken by Nur-Sultan will contribute, on the one hand, to the provision of Jambyl region. irrigation water, on the other hand, enhancing cooperation with Kyrgyzstan on the rational use of water resources of transboundary rivers.