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.
