Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$150 million loan and a US$3 million grant to help improve food and water security in Uzbekistan through better land and water resources management for improved agricultural productivity.

The Climate Adaptive Water Resources Management in the Aral Sea Basin Sector Project will ensure efficient use of water resources by upgrading selected irrigation and drainage systems and enhancing the country’s capacity to better manage them. ADB will also administer a US$300,000 grant from its High-Level Technology Fund.

“ADB is keen to strengthen water resources management in Uzbekistan. The country relies on precious transboundary waters which are vital for agriculture production. This is the main source of livelihoods for half the country’s rural population, for which water is a key input,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov. “This project will support the government’s priorities to move towards higher value cropping, improve land and water resources management, and climate change adaptation.”

An estimated 90% of all water resources used in Uzbekistan goes to agriculture, including wheat and cotton irrigation, but climate change is affecting water supply. The project will establish climate-resilient and modernized irrigation systems in the Amu Darya and the Zarafshan River basins by improving water measurement and modernizing existing irrigation and drainage infrastructure.

The project will help improve on-farm water management, introduce technology, and scale up practices to increase water productivity. It will also allow irrigation systems to adapt to more frequent water shortages and enable water users to cope better with climate variability. The project will help strengthen policy and institutional capacity for sustainable water resources management.

ADB will also provide an US$850,000 technical assistance grant to support the government in implementing key elements of the National Water Resource Management and Irrigation Strategy, such as major reforms in the water resources and irrigation subsectors through capacity development.

“ADB is a key development partner of Uzbekistan and has steadily provided policy advice, investment support, and capacity development,” said ADB Principal Water Resources Specialist Frank Radstake for Central and West Asia. “This project will help strengthen the Ministry of Water Resources and local water management organizations, while helping farmers and water consumers improve productivity.”

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.