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Conclusions
Water has been always the source of life, prosperity and wellbeing in CA and therefore was in the center of any forms of statehood. Although the diversity of interests and challenges that society and state face moved water aside of national and interstate priorities, but growth, demography, natural balance and future sustainable development in the context of natural cataclysms and climate change again move water back on the top of government concerns. The Central Asian region inherited a huge water-related infrastructure, a wealth of experience, knowledge and technology, and a great desire to ensure well-being of CA nations. However, in the context of globally, geopolitically, economically, politically and technologically changing world, new ways and solutions in the area of water relations and water use must be sought for. Water development and use in the region is in the focus of all national and regional water organizations that should be guided by considerations of those future factors to overcome the water deficit, which is anticipated by 2035–2040. The Summit of the Heads of IFAS founder-states in 2018 called the countries to enhance regional cooperation in the field of water conservation and interstate water management and use. In particular, the President of Uzbekistan proposed to adopt a Regional program for rational water use in Central Asia. The Uzbek Ministry of Water Management has developed a draft of the Regional program and presented it to CA countries for discussion. Experts think that the Regional program of rational water use in the Central Asian region should consider the following: a)
make use of water reserves by:
reducing losses in river’s main courses and at interfaces of water hierarchy;
improving the water accounting system;
increasing uniformity of water distribution and raising stability of water supply;
using return water and wastewater as maximum as possible;
coordinating and ensuring fulfillment of the agreed water releases while operating large hydropower schemes;
revising crop water requirements based on new FAO methodology and considering climate change.
b) potentially huge resource reserves can be developed through the improvement of water and land productivity on the base of agricultural extension services, the work of which will be based on yield programming methods supported by remote sensing; water saving; and, crop diversification. Shifting to drought-tolerant crop varieties, consideration of positive effects of climate change and increased focus on reclamation of land can contribute to improved productivity of land.
OVERVIEW OF THE USE AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN CENTRAL ASIA © OECD 2020
