Name of the project
	Aral Sea Basin Project 3.1.B Agricultural water quality improvement International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement Wageningen. The Netherlands. 1997
Aim of the project
	Assessment of agricultural water quality and tendency of its transformation and impact on environmental situation, crops yield and quality of agricultural products. Measures for improvement agricultural water quality.
Financing Organization
	The Netherlands trust fund, with coordination of project by World Bank and Executive Committee of the International Fund for the Aral Sea.
Duration of the project
	1996-1997
Executors
	Representatives from regional and national groups of each Central Asian countries and scientific organizations of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan Chaireman: Konuhov V.G. (Uzbekistan State Committee on Nature Protection)
Results of the Study
	Prepared the 7-volume Final Report, consisting of: Volume 1. Executive Summary. Volume 2. Classification of Project Proposals in Themes for improvement of Agricultural Water Quality. Volume 3. The General Positions of the 5 Basin States On Water Quality. Problems and their Solutions. Volume 4. Summaries of the National Reports of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan. Volume 5. Project Proposals of the National Working Groups. Volume 6. Analysis of Water and Salinity Data. Volume 7. Inventory of the Water Management, Situation in the Basin of the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers, the use of Land and Water Resources. It was analysed dynamics of irrigation (from 5 mln.ha in 1950 to 8,0 mln.ha up-to 1990) in Central Asia, followed by intensive withdrawal of water from main rivers - Amudarya and Syrdarya (85 km3 and 48 km3 in average accordingly). Large scale impact of such irrigation on natural resources have caused worsening ecological and social situation in region: degradation of the Aral Sea and spreading desertification on a vast territories, water logging and land salinization, worsening quality of surface and ground waters, drinking and irrigation water, declining crop yield and human health. Considerable long term damage to environment had been happened by the result of overuse and poor management of agrochemicals. Project have recommended improving agricultural water quality on four level of management - basin, oblast, district (rajion) and farm. Also it was analyzed process of forming return and collector-drainage water. It was developed inception plan of agricultural water improvement and its realization on 7 subprojects on pilot plots. Positive result which could be given on them will be distributed for large territories. Projects consist of: 1. Integral management of water resources, including quality and quantity of water for reaching optimal products on irrigated area. With minimal environmental impact. Water saving and crop yield increasing are planned to 10-15%. 2. Application of biotechnology on farms will be increased efficiency of water using, resulted by 10% of water economy and 30-40% of land productivity. 3. Control of using agrochemicals, and implementation of integrated methods of weed and insect control, modern spraying technology will decrease pollution of environment by chemicals and will increase land productivity up-to 30-40%. 4. Optimal management of drainage systems, decreasing their environmental impact will minimize mobilization salt from geological stratas, will prevent land salinization and improve river water quality. 5. Utilization of collector-drainage water, includes methods of their reuse, cleaning them on bioplateau and wetlands. After that processes water could be used for salt tolerant fodder crop growing and agroforestry. 6. Regional transferring of salt mass, assessment of ground water quality calculation of water and salt balance, drawing real pattern of salt migration. 7. Water, salt and chemical substances balance in the Aral Sea basin combined assessment of return and collector-drainage water pollution from point and distributed sources for working out water conservation measures.
Contacts:
	H.Denecke. International Inst. for Land Reclamation and Improvement (ILRI), PO. BOX 45 6700AA Wageningen. The Netherlands. Tel: 31-317 490144. Fax 31-317-417187. M.P. Guliaev. Uzgipromeliovodhoz 700011 Tashkent Navoi 44. Tel: 998-3712-422986 Fax: 998-3712-422985