Water Resources Management and Land Improvement Project – Kazakhistan

Project Name: Water Resources Management and Land Improvement Project

Country: KAZAKHSTAN

Finance Source: ADB

Partners: Mott MacDonald (UK), Jer-Ana(KAZ)

Tags: Kazakhstan, ADB, Irrigation, Design, Supervision, Technical Assistance

The Project area comprises 32 500 ha of surface irrigated lands in Makhtaaral Raion in the southernmost part of South Kazakstan Oblast. The irrigation system is in poor repair due to insufficient investment in maintenance and it is no longer operated nor managed effectively. The existing 250 vertical drainage tubewells are no longer functional, this has lead to raised groundwater levels and increased salinisation of the plant root zone.

In support of the Government of Kazakhstan’s policy in respect of privatisation of former state farms, the Project has the key objectives of:
• organising beneficiary farmers into Water Users Associations (WUA), training the staff and members of the WUA
• improving the environment and public health in the Project area through lowering of the water table and introduction of more effective environmental monitoring,
• improving net farm incomes and employment opportunities of the targeted beneficiaries through a sustainable increase in crop yields and production.

A brief description of the Project components are as follows:
1. Institutional Support and Training
a) Establishment of Water Users Associations (WUAs), b) Cost recovery, c) Training, d) Development of computer based hydraulic, on-farm water distribution and integrated water supply and drainage models, e) Implementation of Integrated Pest Management.
2. Monitoring and Evaluation
a) Water quality monitoring, b) Socioeconomic monitoring.
3. Engineering and Management
Advising and assistance the PIU with: Preparation of final designs, specifications, tender documents for all structures, wells, pumping equipment; procurement of goods and services for the civil works contracts; procurement and installation of pumping units and laboratory equipment; as well as supervision of civil works and supply contracts.