BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The Eurasian
Development Bank (EDB)-supported project to develop a sustainable
irrigation ecosystem in Kazakhstan has entered a new implementation
phase, moving from preparation to practical deployment of digital
water management solutions.


The project "Development of a Business Ecosystem for Sustainable
Irrigation in Kazakhstan" is being implemented by the EDB in
strategic partnership with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources
and Irrigation and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP).


According to EDB Industry Analysis Center Head Arman Akhunbaev,
several practical steps have already been completed. Automated
water accounting systems are being introduced at eight facilities
of the Shardara Reservoir, mobile hydrological stations have been
purchased, a site has been selected for a regional modern
irrigation center, and technical specifications have been prepared
for the feasibility study of the Kenderlyk dam.


"The project has moved from the stage of conceptual development
to practical implementation," Akhunbaev said, noting that the
initiative is aimed at creating a comprehensive ecosystem combining
digitalization, infrastructure, technological solutions and
professional training.


At the Shardara Reservoir facilities, the project envisages the
installation of sensors for monitoring water levels and flows with
real-time data transmission. The system will allow Kazakhstan to
reduce reliance on manual measurements, accelerate data collection
and improve the efficiency of water allocation.


"Water conservation is not limited to installing individual
sensors or one-time training. Data must be transformed into
management decisions, technologies into practical skills, and pilot
solutions into a basis for further scaling. This is how
digitalization, competencies, infrastructure and regulation come
together into a unified business ecosystem," Akhunbaev said.


The development of modern irrigation technologies is becoming
increasingly important for Kazakhstan and Central Asia amid growing
pressure on water resources.







EDB previously told Trend that the bank’s $5.3 million grant project with
UNDP and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is
designed not only to test individual technologies but also to
create a foundation for a regional irrigation industry.


"The project will show which technologies work best in local
conditions, what technical standards are required, what skills
farmers and water-sector specialists need, and how equipment can be
installed, operated and serviced at scale," the bank said.


According to the EDB, Central Asian countries currently spend an
estimated $140 million–$320 million annually on imported irrigation
equipment. By 2040, the region may require up to 2 million new
irrigation units, creating a potential market of about $426 million
per year for locally produced systems.


The bank noted that successful technologies tested in Kazakhstan
could later be scaled nationally and shared with other Central
Asian countries through cooperation with UNDP offices in
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and other states in the region.


The project also includes preparation of infrastructure
solutions, including a feasibility study for the Kenderlyk dam,
which will assess environmental and social risks, climate factors,
biodiversity and possibilities for combining irrigation, flood
protection, hydropower generation and ecological water
releases.


The initiative is planned for 2025–2029 and focuses on five
areas: digital water management, development of professional
skills, piloting modern irrigation technologies, multipurpose
reservoir management and improvement of the regulatory
framework.